Tottenham’s statement signing of the summer was undoubtedly their £52 million deal for playmaker Xavi Simons, who signed a potential seven-year contract at Spurs after joining from RB Leipzig in the final days of the window.
The deal was penned for an initial five years with the option of a further two, coming as one of the longest player contracts in Tottenham’s history, and perhaps a real indicator as to how highly they rate the Dutchman.
Mohammed Kudus
£55 million
Kota Takai
£5 million
Mathys Tel
£30 million
Joao Palhinha
Loan
Kevin Danso
£21 million
Xavi Simons
£52 million
Randal Kolo Muani
Loan
Daniel Levy, who has now resigned after the shocking announcement of his departure on Thursday, led a recruitment team of CEO Vinai Vinkatesham, technical director Johan Lange and unofficial advisor Fabio Paratici in pursuit of a much-needed playmaker before Monday’s transfer deadline.
After two very public and humbling failed attempts to sign one, with Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze rejecting moves to Tottenham in dramatic late fashion, Spurs finally landed on Simons after an impressive two years in the Bundesliga.
In doing so, the Lilywhites gazumped Chelsea’s deal for the 22-year-old, saving some face after Gibbs-White’s bizarre saga and Arsenal’s hijacking of Eze.
Simons, who came through Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy before moving on to PSG and then Leipzig, bagged 22 goals and 24 assists in 78 total appearances for the latter side.
The Netherlands international is famed for his “silky” skills and creativity in the final third, which is exactly what Thomas Frank is crying out for after injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.
The former ruptured his ACL in pre-season and won’t be back until 2026 as a result, while Kulusevski wasn’t named in Tottenham’s 22-man Champions League squad as the Swede is expected to return in December.
Tottenham dealt Xavi Simons worry as "concern" arises for Thomas Frank
Simons was unveiled before a delighted Spurs crowd before their 1-0 loss to Bournemouth prior to the international break, prompting excitement as supporters anticipate his imminent debut.
However, Bundesliga expert Kevin Hatchard has also sent a warning to Tottenham about the player.
Based off some “talk” he’s heard from German circles, Simons’ body language and attitude have sometimes come into question.
According to Mick Brown, Tottenham also spoke with Aston Villa about signing Morgan Rogers, but given just how unobtainable he proved to be with an £80 million price tag, Simons is a more-than viable alternative with a huge ceiling.
CSK got off to a good start before swirling into a procession on two-paced black-soil pitch
Karthik Krishnaswamy30-Apr-20251:47
Finch: CSK needed a player like Brevis in middle order
A 47-ball 88 from Sam Curran put Chennai Super Kings on course to breach 200 for only the second time in IPL 2025 and the first time at home, only for Yuzvendra Chahal to send their innings spiralling to an early close with four wickets in the 19th over including a hat-trick.It left the match curiously poised: this black-soil pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium seemed two-paced through most of CSK’s innings, so 191 may well be a testing target for Punjab Kings. CSK could have ended up with a significantly bigger total, though, and PBKS have a line-up of serious depth.The finish of CSK’s innings was an extraordinary one. Chahal had only been used for two overs up to the start of the 19th, with PBKS reluctant to use him or the left-arm orthodox spinner Harpreet Brar against CSK’s left-hand batters. But with the famously spin-shy MS Dhoni new to the crease, Shreyas Iyer threw his legspinner the ball.Dhoni hit a six off his first legal ball, only to hole out next ball. A procession followed, with Chahal dismissing Deepak Hooda, Anshul Kamboj and Noor Ahmad off the last three balls of the over.Through all this, Shivam Dube, CSK’s best spin-hitter, was stuck at the non-striker’s end. He may even have wondered if he should have refused a second run off the first ball Hooda faced, and kept the strike against Chahal. Dube picked up an inside-edged four off the first ball of the final over but holed out next ball, which meant CSK had lost their last five wickets for six runs, in the space of seven balls.Until that harebrained passage of play, CSK might have been the happier side by far. They had lost both openers early, but Curran had defied the two-paced pitch and sapping humidity to play an innings of some substance. His 47-ball innings included nine fours, four sixes and just ten dot balls.The defining passage of his innings came in the 16th over, when Iyer chose to give the military-medium Suryansh Shedge a third over rather than risk bowling Chahal or Brar against the two left-handers at the crease. Shedge had conceded just 14 off his first two overs, but Curran kept pouncing on his errors now, hitting him for two sixes and two fours in a 26-run over.That Shedge had to bowl that over was also an effect of PBKS losing Glenn Maxwell – possibly for the rest of the season – to a broken finger. Maxwell has had a difficult IPL with the bat, but has contributed significantly with his offspin, which PBKS would have welcomed against CSK’s left-handers.
Portugal legend Pepe has heaped praise on his former manager Jose Mourinho following his return to management with Benfica. The pair worked together at Real Madrid in what was, at times, a fractious relationship. But Pepe is delighted to see Mourinho back in his homeland, after he took his place in the dugout at the Estadio da Luz.
Pepe shows Mourinho respect
Mourinho left Fenerbahce after the club failed to qualify for the Champions League proper, but was picked up almost immediately by Benfica, a move Pepe is delighted with. The iconic former centre-back told A Bola: "We have a coach who has just arrived at Benfica and who I know well and who certainly won't give up on a game. Having a coach like Mourinho in our league is always beneficial for the way the game is played, and I think everyone is now engaged in his press conferences. It's even good for the European and international level, globally, because Mourinho attracts a lot of people who can also see the quality of Portuguese football.
"I was trained by him, I know his skills, and he's an excellent coach who will surely do everything he can to help Benfica win. I hope that doesn't happen, because as I've said, I want FC Porto to win titles again. I don't think Mourinho has lost anything; he's still Mourinho. I also speak from experience. The years teach us many things; we don't give so much to our blood or our heart, but rather to our reason, and Mourinho has been improving this. Now he's a much more… not calm, but much more thoughtful coach than he was when his club drew or lost."
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AFP
Real deal in Madrid
Mourinho's tenure in the Spanish capital included a complex relationship with Pepe, which was characterised by both reliance and friction between the pair. The Portuguese tactician utilised the player's strength and aggression as a cornerstone of his defensive tactics, sometimes even deploying him as a No.6. Pepe was a key figure in Mourinho's early successes at the Spanish giants, including winning La Liga. However, the relationship deteriorated, particularly towards the end of the head coach's spell in May 2013. Pepe expressed regret over the manager's handling of captain Iker Casillas. Mourinho, in turn, attributed the central defender's criticism to frustration over losing his starting spot to Raphael Varane. This public disagreement highlighted the tensions that arose between the two during Mourinho's final season at the club.
Mourinho’s history of falling out with players
Mourinho has had several well-documented fallouts with players throughout his managerial career, often stemming from his direct and demanding management style. These disputes often revolved around perceived lack of effort, tactical disagreements, or poor performances. One of the most notable examples is the strained relationship with Paul Pogba during his time as boss of Manchester United. Mourinho publicly criticised Pogba's attitude and leadership, once reportedly telling him he was "like a person with a flu, with a virus in a closed room – you pass that virus to the others". Their disagreements escalated, culminating in a training ground confrontation captured on camera. Other players who have experienced Mourinho's wrath include Luke Shaw, who received repeated public criticism regarding his fitness and professionalism, Eden Hazard due to his defensive work-rate at Chelsea, and Casillas was dropped during the prickly coach's time in Madrid.
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Pepe’s twilight years
Pepe enjoyed a remarkable twilight to his career with Porto and the Portugal national team before retiring in 2024 at age 41. He showcased incredible longevity and elite performance, culminating in significant records and tournament appearances. He played a key role for Porto, captaining the side and helping them win the Portuguese Cup in 2023. That year, he became the oldest outfield player to compete in and score in the Champions League. He was already the oldest player to score in a knockout stage match at the 2022 World Cup. His final match was Portugal's quarter-final defeat at Euro 2024, and he officially announced his retirement in August of that year.
A 2-0 lead is the worst lead. So goes the footballing cliché. But it’s a saying aptly applied to Arne Slot’s Liverpool as they continue to face adversity when two goals to the good this season.
Three times had Liverpool ceded their lead when two goals up before meeting Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
After a barnstorming start to the all-Liverpool clash, the Reds looking back to their ferocious best, old habits crept in, with Idrissa Gueye pulling one back after the interval and casting an anxious blanket across most of Anfield.
However, this time Slot’s men didn’t need to dig deep and find a last-gasp winner, instead coming together to repel the impressive Toffees and see the game off.
Five wins from five in the Premier League. The hosts might have made a slight meal of things in the second half, but they got the job done once again, with a series of players stepping up.
Liverpool's best performers vs Everton
Virgil van Dijk is imperious as Liverpool’s leader and centre-back supreme, but Ibrahima Konate performed very well indeed against Everton, putting that shaky start to the season firmly behind him.
Against Everton, the France international won seven of eight aerial duels that came his way (data courtesy of Sofascore), while making eight clearances and two tackles, showing off that physical robustness when powering forward to stamp out danger or cover a wandering midfielder.
In the first half, Liverpool won 55% of the duels, but after the break, it was Everton who showed more impetus in the challenge, flipping that to a 56% success rate against the Anfield side.
That doesn’t tell the full story, though, and Dominik Szoboszlai is a testament to that, having only won half of his eight duels but thrived in an all-action midfield role, leading the press and showing off his first-rate stamina as the match wound down, instrumental to snuffing out a late comeback.
(GK) Alisson Becker
6/10
(RB) Conor Bradley
6/10
(CB) Ibrahima Konate
8/10
(CB) Virgil van Dijk
7/10
(LB) Milos Kerkez
6.5/10
(CM) Ryan Gravenberch
9/10
(CM) Alexis Mac Allister
6/10
(RW) Mohamed Salah
7/10
(AM) Dominik Szoboszlai
7.5/10
(LW) Cody Gakpo
6/10
(ST) Hugo Ekitike
9/10
Record signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak both entered the fray either side of the hour mark, but neither could write their names into the headlines as the visitors applied pressure and pushed for an equaliser.
That pairing have the skills and styles to emerge as Liverpool’s new version of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, but it’s two higher-flying members of Slot’s squad who are emerging as such stars of old.
Liverpool's new version of Gerrard & Torres
Torres and Gerrard formed one of the most iconic partnerships in Premier League history, turning aside opponents from every which way. Liverpool’s legendary skipper once said El Niño was “the best striker in the world”, before he up and left for Chelsea.
Hugo Ekitike has some stiff competition in Isak at number nine at Liverpool, but he’s playing like a man who knows it right now, having scored his fourth goal of the season after calmly collecting from a delicious Ryan Gravenberch pass and sending the ball past Jordan Pickford.
Liverpool’s £69m striker built on Gravenberch’s earlier goal, an incredible finish, dinked up and over Pickford and down and into the net after Mohamed Salah lobbed into space.
The duo have been incredible this season; they are proving invaluable proponents of Slot’s tactics, so coolly hitting the right heights under the head coach’s guidance.
Last season, Gravenberch announced himself as a major contender for a top side, but he now appears to have taken his game to the next level.
Peter Crouch remarked after the match for TNT Sports that he believes Gravenberch “has been Liverpool’s best player this season”, and it would be hard to contest that, so influential has he been across every corner of the midfield.
Now that he’s kindling a devastating attacking side to his game, the Dutchman is truly shaping into a new, modern version of Gerrard, who was the king of complete performances when in his heyday.
Moreover, Gerrard was a constant thorn in Everton’s side, with no man having scored more in the Merseyside derby than him.
Steven Gerrard
Liverpool
9
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool
8
Divock Origi
Liverpool
6
Robbie Fowler
Liverpool
6
Tim Cahill
Everton
5
Dirk Kuyt
Liverpool
5
Torres was hardly a pushover on derby day, either, scoring three times against the Blues over five appearances as a Liverpool player; all three strikes came during his first two contests.
Ekitike appears up for the task of emulating the one-time hero, and he might even be playing with an air of the Spaniard’s flair too, with former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster saying during the game that the 23-year-old “looks like prime Fernando Torres running around Anfield”.
There was something Torres-esque about the way Ekitike worked overtime, just as it should be in a meeting of intense rivalry. The Frenchman completed all four of his dribbles, won seven duels and made two tackles for Slot’s side.
Fernando Torres celebrates for Liverpool
Isak, to be sure, has his work cut out this season and beyond. But Liverpool want to defend their Premier League title while challenging for silverware across all the other fronts too this term, and the duality of elite options at centre-forward will go a long way toward achieving that.
Boasting a combined Transfermarkt valuation of £130m and showcasing a budding partnership when Grav threaded through for his new frontman, there’s plenty of reason to be excited on the Red half of Merseyside, with such players already shaping this new charge toward the title.
Gravenberch, too, shares the midfield with a host of world-class players, but it’s hard to argue against the Netherlands international being the first name on the team-sheet right now, immovable and brilliant in the middle of the park.
Slot may be brewing a bigger talent than Isak in "special” Liverpool teen
Liverpool boast one of the finest prospects in Europe in this up-and-coming star.
Cameron Green hit a century on his Gloucestershire debut as the visitors posted 365 for 7 on day one of their Rothesay County Championship game with Kent at Canterbury.Fellow centurion James Bracey made 109 not out and put on 167 with the Australia international, who had to retire not out on exactly 100 with cramp. Green confirmed afterwards that he would be okay to continue his innings on day two, after “a good night’s sleep and a bit of food”.”One hundred percent I’m proud,” he said of becoming the 10th player to score a first-class hundred on debut for Gloucestershire. “It’s been eight long months on the sidelines so to get back out here was very special and it’s always a good way to start your tenure.Related
Green's return brings into focus Australia's big selection calls
“All the Gloucester coaches have been unreal, they gave me the best prep they could have. There was a bit of Dukes ball work back in WA but I think it was a really good training block and it’s always nice to spend some time out in the middle.”If we’d [been] offered that at the start of the day we’d have taken it, it’s quite a green wicket out there,” he added. “I thought it did quite a bit early and credit to the guys to push through to that score. It was a good first day.”I think it was doing a fair amount throughout. I think a ball had our name on it the whole time, but two guys got in and tried to stay in as long as you could and I think Hammo [Miles Hammond] and Brace both put the pressure back on them with scoring pretty quickly as soon as they came out, so credit to those guys, they batted beautifully.”Nathan Gilchrist kept Kent in it with 5 for 61 but the hosts were hindered by an indifferent display in the field and an injury to Grant Stewart.After winning the toss Kent stuck with the formula that helped them win their two opening games by choosing to bowl, but they failed to capitalise on a promising start having reduced Gloucestershire to 15 for 2.Gilchrist got Cameron Bancroft for just 2, lbw trying to play across his pads, but Ollie Price was on 1 when he edged Stewart. Keeper Harry Finch pulled out of the catch expecting it to carry to first slip and it fell short.Ben Charlesworth went in the next over, lbw to Gilchrist, but Kent’s already cursed bowling unit then suffered another blow when Stewart pulled up injured midway through the 14th over and had to be replaced by Jas Singh (Kashif Ali also seemed to be struggling when he went off during the evening session, although he did return before stumps).Singh had Ollie Price lbw for 18 in his next over, to a ball that looked like it might be going down, but Green and Miles Hammond rebuilt the innings and it was 96 for 3 at lunch.Hammond looked poised for his half-century, only for Singh to rip out his off stump for 48, but that was the highpoint of an otherwise saggy afternoon session for the hosts. Green never looked troubled and he pushed Jack Leaning for a single to mid-off to reach his 50.It was 225 for 4 at tea, after which the visitors continued to dominate, although they were given another life when Bracey was on 67. He edged Leaning to first slip but Daniel Bell-Drummond put down a regulation chance.By the time Green reached the late 90s he seemed to be suffering from cramp and was visibly struggling to take singles. When he drove Joey Evison for one he made it to the bowler’s end before collapsing to the ground and retiring.Gilchrist was the only bowler who really looked like taking a wicket and he dragged Kent back into it late in the evening session. He got Graeme van Buuren lbw for 19 with the new ball and Tom Price leg before with a full toss that hit him on the shin. Matt Taylor gloved a short-pitched delivery to Finch, but Josh Shaw made it to stumps on 18 not out and with Green available to return if needed, Gloucestershire could yet bat deep into day two.
Ferland Mendy is finally nearing his Real Madrid return after six months out with a serious thigh injury sustained in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona last season. The French defender will rejoin partial team training this week but faces a new challenge under Xabi Alonso, with Alvaro Carreras now the undisputed starter at left-back.
Mendy returns after six-month layoff
According to , Mendy is set to take part in team training at Real Madrid this week for the first time in nearly half a year. The French full-back has been sidelined since April 26, when he ruptured a proximal tendon in his right quadriceps just minutes into the Copa del Rey final defeat against Barcelona. After undergoing surgery four days later, his recovery period was initially estimated at around 10 to 12 weeks, but setbacks extended his absence for long.
The 30-year-old’s rehabilitation has now reached its final phase, and Madrid’s medical staff are gradually reintegrating him into group sessions. The club intend to monitor his workload closely to avoid any recurrence, especially given his track record of recurring muscle injuries.
Villarreal-Barcelona in Miami: Pre-sale Oct. 21
Ticket accessAdvertisementAFPFirst training under boss Xabi Alonso
Mendy’s upcoming return will mark his first involvement under new head coach Alonso and having not featured in any of Alonso’s sessions so far, the Frenchman will now have to prove his fitness and tactical suitability in a system that has evolved since his absence.
The report confirmed that Mendy will “return to partial training this week,” while club sources see his comeback as a timely reinforcement amid a demanding October schedule. Alonso is expected to take a cautious approach, gradually increasing the defender’s minutes before he is fully match-ready.
Ferland's injury record and role at Madrid
Since his €48 million move from Lyon in 2019, Mendy has endured a frustrating spell of fitness problems that have hampered his consistency. He has suffered 17 separate injuries, missing 112 matches and spending over 600 days on the sidelines. Despite that, his performances when fit have been exceptional, particularly during Real Madrid’s Champions League triumphs in 2022 and 2024, when Carlo Ancelotti hailed him as “the best defensive full-back in the world.”
Mendy signed a contract extension in 2024 that has yet to be officially announced, signalling the club’s continued faith in his ability to perform at the highest level despite his physical setbacks.
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GettyImagesMendy's tough competition at Los Blancos
Mendy’s return comes at a time when Madrid’s left-back department is more crowded than ever. With Carreras, who joined from Benfica for €50 million (£42m/$57m) this summer, has established himself as the clear first-choice, playing more than 800 minutes already this season. Meanwhile, academy graduate Fran Garcia, who impressed in the Club World Cup, has seen his playing time reduced to just 202 minutes so far.
With Mendy’s experience and defensive reliability, Alonso could soon face a selection dilemma, balancing the form of Carreras with the Frenchman’s defensive pedigree. However, Mendy is expected to be eased back as a rotational option before challenging for a regular starting berth.
Madrid will continue to manage Mendy’s recovery carefully, but it may still take several weeks before he is ready to return to competitive action. His availability would be a welcome boost for Alonso, who is preparing his side for a demanding run of fixtures that includes a Clasico showdown against Barca.
O Athletico-PR ganhou um reforço em seus cofres, mas que não veio de nenhuma negociação recente, premiação por meta esportiva ou mesmo acordo de patrocínio. Isso porque o Santa Clara-POR, através de comunicado oficial, informou ter saldado o débito existente junto ao Furacão desde o ano passado envolvendo o atacante Cryzan.
Não há maiores informações sobre qual seria o valor exato da dívida em questão. Entretanto, o comunicado da representação do Velho Continente afirma que a mesma ‘ascendia a mais de um milhão de euros’, garantindo o recebimento do clube paranaense em algo superior a casa dos R$ 5,2 milhões devido a atual cotação da moeda estrangeira.
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>Assista aos jogos do seu clube do coração com aquela gelada! Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00
Em março de 2022, o avante brasileiro deixou a equipe lusitana e rumou para a Ásia, mais precisamente para o Shandong Taishan-CHN, pelo preço de dois milhões de euros (R$ 11 milhões na cotação da época).
Mesmo com o fato do jogador ter rescindido com o Athletico antes de assinar com o Santa Clara, em 2019, o Furacão ainda detinha 42,6% dos direitos econômicos de Cryzan. Logo, o clube teria de receber, na época de sua ida par o futebol chinês, R$ 4,6 milhões do montante total da transação, algo que não ocorreu.
Por conta dos juros acumulados desde que a dívida surgiu, o Santa Clara precisou fazer uma renegociação da dívida que já estava sob os cuidados da Fifa. Algo que, consequentemente, poderia acarretar ao clube de Portugal sanções como, por exemplo, ficar impedido de realizações contratações até conseguir honrar o compromisso com o Athletico-PR.
West Ham sporting director Mark Noble has pushed another name to the hierarchy, as chairman David Sullivan and co weigh up potential replacements for under-fire boss Graham Potter.
West Ham players back Graham Potter amid mounting pressure
After a disastrous start to 2025/2026, with West Ham losing four of their five opening Premier League games whilst conceding more goals than any other side in the top flight, time is seriously running out for Potter.
They didn’t fare much better last season, either, and Potter has won just six of his 25 total games in charge since taking over from Julen Lopetegui in January.
The Hammers have arguably regressed under Potter, with the tactician recording a worse win percentage (26.1) than Lopetegui and West Ham’s second lowest in Premier League history — bar Avram Grant.
Worst West Ham managers in the Premier League
Win percentage
9. Sam Allardyce
30.7%
10. Julen Lopetegui
30%
11. Gianfranco Zola
27.8%
12 Graham Potter
26.1%
13. Avram Grant
18.9%
via StatMuse
Their poor 2025 form has culminated in a reported stay of execution for the 50-year-old.
According to ExWHUemployee, depending on their result against Everton this weekend, Potter could be sacked after the Arsenal game to give any new manager the best possible chance of a good start at home to Brentford on October 20 — just after the next international break.
West Ham have a host of candidates under consideration to replace Potter, including Nuno Espírito Santo, Slaven Bilic, Gary O’Neil, Scott Parker, Marco Silva and Sean Dyche.
However, despite his uncertain future, multiple reliable media sources, like Sky Sports and The Telegraph, are reporting that Potter has significant backing behind-the-scenes at Rush Green.
Senior West Ham players have apparently told friends that Potter is the right man for the job (The Telegraph), but even with this show of support, it’ll count for very little if results continue on this downward spiral.
Irons shareholders are increasingly concerned by the prospect of relegation (Claret & Hugh), with Daniel Křetínský and other members of the boardroom, like Noble, all involved in the managerial re-hire process.
Mark Noble has pushed West Ham to consider Michael Carrick
The abundance of former players linked with the West Ham hot seat is growing larger, as Noble has now pushed Michael Carrick’s name during internal discussions.
Middlesbrough manager MichaelCarrickbefore the match
The ex-Hammer and Man United legend is a free agent after leaving his most recent job at Middlesbrough, and was briefly caretaker manager at Old Trafford before Ralf Rangnick stepped in.
Journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking to Hammers News, has now claimed that Carrick is being internally discussed at West Ham after Noble’s recommendation.
Carrick attracted praise from ex-teammate Rio Ferdinand as a “class act”, but does that make him the right choice to take Potter’s mantle?
West Ham must avoid Michael Carrick as managerial target
The 44-year-old took charge of 136 Boro matches before leaving in June, averaging 1.57 points per game and missing out on the Championship play-offs last season by just four points.
Boro also just missed out on a play-off place the season before that, and by the exact same number of points.
Middlesbrough manager MichaelCarrickbefore the match
Carrick did guide them to the 22/23 play-off semi-finals, only to go out to Coventry City, losing 1-0 on aggregate.
His stint at the Riverside Stadium showed signs of promise, but it was very much a ‘close but no cigar’ era for the club. Since Carrick’s departure, Boro find themselves top of the second tier table and unbeaten, as they look to finally seal a place back in the Premier League for the first time since 2017.
The jury is out on whether Carrick has done enough to earn the West Ham job, and Nuno comes as a far more appealing alternative, even if there are certain roadblocks that Sullivan and the board need to navigate.
يستعد الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد، لاستكمال مشواره في الموسم الحالي، بعد مباراته أمام يوفنتوس، ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.
واستقبل ريال مدريد ضيفه يوفنتوس على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وتمكن ريال مدريد من تحقيق فوز مهم على يوفنتوس، بهدف نظيف مقابل لا شيء، جعله مستعدًا بقوة للقاء الكلاسيكو المقبل أمام برشلونة.
ويملك ريال مدريد 9 نقاط في رصيده، جمعها من فوز في الجولة الأولى على مارسيليا الفرنسي، بهدفين مقابل هدف، وانتصار على كيرات بخمسة أهداف دون رد، ثم انتصار على يوفنتوس بهدف نظيف. موعد مباراة ريال مدريد القادمة بعد الفوز على يوفنتوس في دوري أبطال أوروبا
ومن المقرر أن يواجه فريق ريال مدريد نظيره برشلونة في كلاسيكو الدوري الإسباني “لا ليجا”، يوم الأحد المقبل.
ويواجه ريال مدريد، برشلونة في “كلاسيكو” الدوري الإسباني لأول مرة بقيادة تشابي ألونسو، على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”، في تمام الساعة السادسة والربع مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة ومكة المكرمة.
With the summer transfer window now closed, Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank now knows the players he will be reliant upon for the next stage of the 2025/26 campaign.
The Dane has been handed a little over £100m to splash on new additions, in an attempt to bolster various areas of his first-team squad during his maiden campaign in the role.
Mohammed Kudus was the most expensive addition made by the hierarchy, costing around £55m from Premier League rivals West Ham United – with the player already making an immediate impact in North London.
The Ghanaian international has registered two assists in his first three league outings for the Lilywhites, helping Frank’s side sit fourth going into the international break.
However, the 25-year-old could be aided in his attempts at the club in the coming months, especially after the late business conducted by the hierarchy in the market.
Xavi Simons’ move to join Spurs this summer
Throughout the summer transfer window, Spurs made signing a new attacking midfielder a priority – especially after the long-term injury suffered by James Maddison.
Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze were the two main targets, but the Lilywhites failed to complete deals for the pair – with the latter joining arch rivals, Arsenal.
However, the club managed to complete a £52m deal for the signature of Xavi Simons from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig – securing the player’s services until the summer of 2030 with a two-year option to extend.
Such a move has undoubtedly generated excitement among the fan base and understandably so, given his tally of 11 goals and eight assists in Germany’s top-flight last campaign.
At just 22 years of age, the Dutchman has bags of time to try and build on the impressive start to his career, potentially being Frank’s key man in such a role for the foreseeable future.
The Spurs player who’s worth more than Simons
Despite Spurs’ measly 17th-placed finish in the Premier League, the club’s frontline managed to impress throughout 2024/25 – racking up 64 goals in their 38 outings.
Dominic Solanke celebrates for Tottenham
Such a record saw the Lilywhites average 1.7 goals scored per 90, with their tally of goals the seventh highest of all sides within England’s top-flight throughout last campaign.
Winger Brennan Johnson finished the season as their top scorer, netting 11 times in the league, even scoring the winner in the Europa League final against fellow English side Manchester United.
After the recent summer window, the addition of Kudus and Simons has added further depth and quality to the attacking department – helping the likes of Dejan Kulusevski reach the next level.
The Swedish international joined the club originally on loan for an 18-month spell in 2022-2023, racking up 57 appearances in all competitions – before subsequently completing a permanent transfer.
The hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £29m for the 25-year-old’s signature – a fee that now appears to be a bargain given his form over the last couple of years.
He’s racked up 89 appearances across the last two seasons in all competitions – with last year being his best to date, notching 10 goals and 11 assists under Ange Postecoglou’s reign.
Combined goals & assists (Spurs PL 24/25)
Player
Tally
1. James Maddison
16
= Heung-min Son
16
2. Brennan Johnson
14
3. Dominic Solanke
12
4. Dejan Kulusevski
11
5. Pedro Porro
8
6. Pape Sarr
5
= Richarlison
5
Stats via FotMob
Kulusevski, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by Rio Ferdinand, managed a run of five games in a row in which he scored – which has certainly bolstered his price tag in recent months.
As a result of his performances in North London, the Swedish star is now valued at £58.6m by FootballTransfers – a figure that is £6.6m higher than the fee paid for Simons.
Both players have showcased their talents over recent months, potentially having a huge part to play in any of the success endured during the Frank era in North London.
If the duo can operate alongside one another, it’s a prospect for the fanbase to be excited about, with their versatility and consistent quality potentially able to help the side build on their recent European triumph.
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