Real Madrid right-back Denzel Dumfries talked to the club's media and shared his thoughts after completing his first training session as a madridista.
"After the first training session, I feel great. Following the holidays, I'm happy to start. It is an honor to be here. The facilities are incredible. Quite expansive. One could easily get disoriented but they are ****** isting me with everything," said the defender.
Dumfries then talked about his teammates.
"They have welcomed me very well. Several are still on holiday due to the World Cup, but those who are here have received me very well: the coaching staff, the manager… I have felt very well received. We have a great team and an excellent manager. It is very good to work and learn from them," he explained.
Dumfries concluded his brief interview talking about his goals for the preseason.

#well #here

Bayer Leverkusen have entered negotiations with Olympique de Marseille over the potential signing of Facundo Medina, with the Argentina international emerging as one of the club's primary defensive targets this summer.
According to reports, discussions between the two clubs are already underway. Medina, who recently featured for Argentina in the World Cup final, is viewed as an experienced and versatile addition capable of operating both as a centre-back and on the left side of defence.
The 27-year-old only joined Marseille recently but has quickly attracted interest following his impressive performances at both club and international level. His versatility and composure in possession reportedly make him an ideal fit for Leverkusen's style of play.
Leverkusen's recruitment drive is not limited to central defence, however. The club also continue to monitor KRC Genk full-back Zakaria El Ouahdi as they explore options to strengthen the right side of their defence, too.
The Moroccan international has been on Leverkusen's radar for some time and remains an alternative should the club decide to add another full-back before the transfer window closes. While no agreement has yet been reached, El Ouahdi is still considered a realistic option.

#side

So far, Manchester United have signed a back-up goalkeeper, two midfielders and a young forward this summer, but former Red Devils defender Danny Simpson says they need fresh blood in another position.
"Lisandro Martinez is injured, Matthijs de Ligt gets injured a lot and Harry Maguire is 33 now, so I think we could do with a centre-back," Simpson told BBC Radio Manchester.
United currently have a wealth of experience in the centre-back department with Martinez, De Ligt and Maguire, but injuries halted their playing time together last season.
It is not yet known if Martinez will be ruled out of the start of the domestic campaign with the injury he picked up during Argentina's World Cup final defeat by Spain.
De Ligt last featured for United in November 2025 under Ruben Amorim.

#martinez #centre #last

ROME (AP) — Roberto Mancini has once again been tasked with revitalizing an Italy team in crisis, almost exactly three years after he bolted on the national team.
Italian soccer federation Giovanni Malagò announced Mancini as the new Italy coach on Tuesday, adding that Claudio Ranieri will become the new technical director after Paolo Maldini stepped down the previous day — just 16 days after being appointed.
The 61-year-old Mancini led the Azzurri to the European Championship **** le in 2021 but shockingly resigned as Italy coach in August 2023, taking over Saudi Arabia's national team two weeks later.
"Time was running out … I believed the person who should become the new coach of Italy is Roberto Mancini, for a whole list of reasons," Malagò said. "There will be a press conference tomorrow with both Claudio Ranieri and Roberto Mancini."
The Italian national team is in crisis after failing for a third straight time to qualify for the World Cup, prompting the resignations of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso in April.

#italian

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — The mass confusion was supposed to be gone by now.
The decisions to sell, buy or stand pat should have been finalized with everyone having a clear direction.
And yet, with just six shopping days left before the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline, we have less clarity now than at the All-Star break.
The Miami Marlins produced their greatest June (20-6) in franchise history, lost a franchise-record 12 games in a row, staged a dramatic comeback against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, and are smack-dab in the NL wild-card race.
The Boston Red Sox, who had the American League's worst record (32-46) a month ago, are cruising now at 55-50, and could be the AL favorites to reach the World Series.

#franchise #marlins #philadelphia #Phillies

As Zinédine Zidane has officially just been appointed head coach of the French national team, the 1998 world champion is preparing to take on one of the biggest challenges of his career.
By stepping into the role of Les Bleus manager, Zizou will aim to join an exclusive club: that of the giants who ruled football with the ball at their feet before imposing their expertise from the touchline.
An overview of the legends who shone both as players and as national team managers.
The man of an absolute winning mentality. Before handing over to his former teammate, Deschamps will have embodied consistency and excellence at the highest world level for more than a decade.
On the pitch: The courageous captain of the 1998 generation, he was the first Frenchman to lift the World Cup before guiding Les Bleus to glory at Euro 2000.

#team #frenchman #euro

Manchester City have confirmed that Josko Gvardiol has signed a new long-term contract, keeping the Croatia international at the Etihad until at least 2031.
The 24-year-old has agreed a five-year extension, with the club holding the option to extend his stay by a further 12 months. Gvardiol becomes the second City defender to commit his future this week, following Abdukodir Khusanov's new deal.
Since joining from RB Leipzig in 2023, Gvardiol has developed into one of City's most important players. Comfortable at both centre-back and left-back, he has made 122 appearances, scored 13 goals and helped the club win six major trophies, including the Premier League and FIFA Club World Cup.
The new contract comes after speculation linking Gvardiol with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Instead, the Croatian has reaffirmed his commitment to City as they continue to reshape their defence following the departures of John Stones and Nathan Aké ahead of the new campaign.

#year

The Official World Golf Ranking has been updated for the week of July 28, 2026 with Scottie Scheffler earning the ****** le of the planet's best player.
After his fifth runner-up finish of the season, Scheffler's lead on No. 2 has strengthened even more. Meanwhile, LIV Golf's Lucas Herbert has moved into the top 50 after his record victory in the UK.
The OWGR system is calculated by awarding points from eligible tours and events to participating players over a rolling two-year period. Players are ranked weekly based on the amount of points they earn divided by the number of events they played in to reach an average total. Points hold their full value for a 13-week period and are then reduced in equal decrements. The current ranking for the Top 50 golfers in the world appear below.
See the full ranking here
Rank

#World #week #official #golf

AS Monaco and FC Nantes are reported to have reached a full agreement on the transfer of Matthis Abline (23) to the club on The Rock, according to information from Foot Mercato.
Eager to join ASM, the striker is set to sign a four-year contract as part of a deal estimated at €30m – €25m plus €5m in bonuses. This represents a colossal sum for Les Canaris, who are set to finalise the biggest sale in their history.
Having already been close to leaving Brittany a year ago, Abline is now set to finally make his move, following a season in which he scored eight goals and provided seven **** ists in 34 appearances, despite Nantes' relegation to Ligue 2.
At Monaco, the Angers-born player will need to quickly prove himself up to the task, as he is set to replace Folarin Balogun (25) – who enjoyed a standout World Cup and is expected to leave the club this summer – at the forefront of the Monegasque attack.
GFFN | Léo Aschi

#nantes #abline #year #foot

Josko Gvardiol has signed a new five-year contract at Manchester City, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday.
The Croatia international, whose previous deal had two years left to run, is now committed until 2031, with the option of an additional 12 months.
The central defender, who has made 122 appearances since arriving from RB Leipzig for £77 million ($102 million) in 2023, had been linked with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
"As soon as I knew City wanted to renew my contract, I felt straight away it was what I wanted," said the 24-year-old.
"The City fans have been unbelievable with me from day one, and the club provide absolutely everything for players. It's the best club in the world to be at."

#city #manchester

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Josko Gvardiol has signed a new five-year contract at Manchester City until 2031.
The Croatia defender joined City in 2023 and had two years remaining on his deal at the Etihad Stadium.
"As soon as I knew City wanted to renew my contract, I felt straight away it was what I wanted," Gvardiol said. "It's the best club in the world to be at.
"The players we have here are amazing. This is a world-class squad that is young and full of potential. I truly believe we will have a lot of success in the coming years."
The 24-year-old Gvardiol joined City from Leipzig for 90 million euros ($99.2 million), ranking him among the most expensive defenders in soccer history. He has won five major trophies including the Premier League ****** le and FA Cup during his time at the club.

#year #years #club

Josko Gvardiol has said he's delighted to extend his Manchester City contract and remain at 'the best club in the world'.
Gvardiol has signed a new five-year contract with the Cityzens, a deal which will extend his time at the Etihad until 2031.
The 24-year-old has been an important figure since his £77m move from RB Leipzig in 2023, winning six trophies across his three seasons, including thePremier League.
The Croatia international has now ended speculation over an exit with a new deal, and said he had no doubts about penning a long-term extension.
"As soon as I knew City wanted to renew my contract, I felt straight away it was what I wanted,"he said.

#wanted #josko #cityzens

Team Northern Ireland's Kate O'Connor leads the women's heptathlon after two events at Scotstoun Stadium.
O'Connor registered 2047 points, while fellow Team NI athlete Anna McCauley sits sixth on 1912.
McCauley set a new personal best of 13.70 seconds in the 100m hurdles and finished first in her heat before O'Connor finished third with a time of 13.54.
The World Outdoor silver medallist then produced a season's best jump of 1.82m in the high jump, while McCauley cleared 1.73m.
England's Jade O'Dowda is currently four points behind O'Connor in second with New Zealand's Maddie Wilson occupying third.

#finished

An English Premier League side had to change its pre-season plans thanks to Donald Trump and other world leaders.
With the 2026 World Cup now over, attention has turned back towards club football, with the MLS campaign already ongoing and leagues around Europe set to kick off in August.
Ahead of the new season, most teams are now in the middle of pre-season tours, but Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion had to change their plans thanks to Donald Trump and others damaging some pitches earlier this summer.
Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
The 52nd G7 Summit took place from June 15 to June 17 in Evian-les-Bains, a commune in Eastern France

#premier #change #plans

Barcelona have completed two summer signings so far, bringing in Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United and Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund.
The former is still away on holiday as he continues to recover after an impressive World Cup, but Adeyemi is already with Barça and training with the team.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the German attacker is expected to make his first appearance as a Barcelona player this Friday after Hansi Flick decided that he is ready for match action.
Adeyemi will debut against Birmingham City after completing another productive week of training during Barcelona's pre-season camp at St George's Park in England.
The 24-year-old was named on the bench for Barcelona's friendly against CE Europa last week after arriving with limited training behind him.

#gordon #united #borussia

One of the best French soccer players of all time will lead the country's men's national team moving forward. Zinedine Zidane was named the new head coach of the club Tuesday.
Zidane, 54, signed a four-year deal with the team.
Zidane has a lot to live up to in the role. France has been one of the best performers in recent World Cups. Prior to finishing in fourth place this year, the team finished as runners-up in 2022 and won it all in 2018.
The team's head coach during that span, Didier Deschamps, announced prior to the 2026 World Cup that it would be his last one with the team, paving the way for Zidane to take over.
This story will be updated.

#prior #best #head

The LeBron James free agency cycle lasted a little less than a full month. Right before the pandemonium began, he informed the Los Angeles Lakers of his desire to play for a new team. Since then, rumors have continued to circulate about where the four-time MVP could end up.
Finally, the decision was announced on July 24, 2026. Joining his fourth franchise, he was going to the Philadelphia 76ers. Now, a veteran insider has gotten the inside scoop on how his new team found out about the decision.
With teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Golden State Warriors also in the hunt, there were a ton of options at James' disposal. With almost all of those organizations making major moves, the four-time NBA champion had a lot to ***** s.
Ultimately, though, the allure of playing alongside one of his favorite young players, Tyrese Maxey, alongside the complete roster the 76ers sported after trading for Jaylen Brown was enough to sway his decision.
However, Marc Stein on his Substack confirmed that the decision wasn't made in haste. Instead, James made up his mind just hours before it was revealed to the world at large.

#james #decision #four #right

Go behind the scenes as Josko Gvardiol penned a new City contract.
Men's Team
Gvardiol has been a revelation since joining us in August 2023 from German side, RB Leipzig.
The classy defender has showcased his talent at both centre-half and left-back during that time as well as collecting six major honours in the sky blue shirt.
They include the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield.

#gvardiol #josko #city

Former ******* nal star Takehiro Tomiyasu is currently training with Crystal Palace as he plots a Premier League return, according to The Athletic. The ******* anese left the Gunners in July 2025 after his contract was terminated by mutual agreement at the North London club. Tomiyasu was a key player for ******* nal manager Mikel Arteta whenever he was fit, making 84 appearances for the Emirates Stadium club during his four seasons at the club. The Palace target joined Ajax last December on a six-month deal, leaving at the end of last season.
He is currently a free agent and a move to the Selhurst Park club could be on the cards. The former Gunners star could make an appearance for the Eagles in a friendly later this week. He has been training with the South London club as part of their pre-season preparations. The high-level training environment Palace is providing has come in handy for Tomiyasu as he looks to maintain and improve his fitness.
Tomiyasu made three appearances at the World Cup with ******* an and will fancy his chances of impressing in the Premier League again after overcoming his injury woes.
The Eagles are not the only ones keen on the full-back, with clubs in the Championship and other European leagues also looking to recruit his services.
He will not be short of suitors even if a move to Palace falls through, but a return to the English top-flight appeals to him.

#premier

Just a few weeks ago, only a handful of members of the U.S. women's hockey team were expected to attend the ESPYs, the annual awards show honoring the year's biggest athletes, teams and moments in sports.
By Wednesday afternoon, many more of the reigning Olympic gold medalists were swapping jerseys for gowns inside a midtown Manhattan penthouse. Champagne was flowing. Hair and makeup artists buzzed around the room. Defenseman Mariah Keopple, who also works as a stylist, helped teammates put the finishing touches on their looks before they headed to the awards show, airing live Wednesday night from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City.
It wasn't exactly the typical pregame routine for one of the world's best hockey teams. And none of it would have happened without an unlikely benefactor: Flavor Flav.
The Public Enemy legend learned last week from U.S. captain Hilary Knight that only a handful of players had been invited to the ESPYs, where Team USA is nominated for Best Team following its dramatic gold-medal victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics. For Flavor Flav, the solution was simple: "I got you."
That promise quickly snowballed.

#flav #awards

Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso believes Morgan Rogers has all the qualities needed to make an immediate impact after completing his club-record move from Aston Villa.
The England international joined the Blues in a deal worth £117 million last week but has not travelled on the club's pre-season tour of Australia and South-East Asia after featuring at the World Cup. Rogers is instead expected to report for training at Cobham on 9 August, leaving him just under two weeks to prepare for Chelsea's Premier League opener against Fulham.
Speaking to reporters in Sydney ahead of Tuesday's friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers, Alonso said Chelsea targeted Rogers because of his ability to settle quickly and raise the team's level.
"For sure, it's a great signing," Alonso said. "In that position we needed an important player and I'm sure there were not many better options than Morgan Rogers."
"You need players who can have that almost instant impact and I am sure Morgan won't need much time to adapt to the club, to the system, to his team-mates. That was the idea that we wanted, to get a top player and Morgan is one of them."

#morgan #rogers #alonso #impact

Ferran Torres has had quite the summer. An extra-time winner in the World Cup final sealed success for Spain in North America, etching his name into national and football folklore.
Torres had the most productive season of his Barcelona career in 2025/26, but there are suggestions he could leave as the Spanish side seek to sign Julian Alvarez. We've looked at the likeliest destinations for the forward.
Paris Saint-Germain – 17/20
Paris Saint-Germain are priced as frontrunners as Luis Enrique looks to add even more depth to a star-studded frontline. With Bradley Barcola agitating for an exit and Yan Diomande off to Real Madrid, Torres could offer an ideal replacement. Enrique gave Torres his Spain debut and appreciates his versatile profile.
Liverpool – 2/1

#germain #America

ONE Championship has finalized the ONE Fight Night 46 on Prime Video lineup with the addition of a highly anticipated flyweight MMA contest between New Zealand-Vietnamese finisher Viet Anh Do and Brazilian promotional newcomer Davi "Ajuricaba" Brandao.
The bout goes down on Friday, August 14, inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on a blockbuster card headlined by a ONE Women's Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship clash between reigning two-sport queen Stella "Always Hungry" Hemetsberger and dangerous Russian challenger Natalia "Karelian Lynx" Diachkova.
The 29-year-old Auckland MMA and Oliver MMA South Auckland product carries a perfect 6-0 career MMA record into this contest, all six victories coming via finish, and a 5-0 promotional ledger built on a series of increasingly emphatic performances that have made him one of the most talked-about stars in the flyweight MMA division.
After competing at ONE Warrior Series twice in 2019, Do returned to the ONE Friday Fights event series in 2025 with a TKO victory in less than three minutes, then followed it up nearly two months later by flatlining Jean Claude Saclag in under a minute.
The performance that defined his rise came in May this year, when he demolished South Korea's "Money" Kyungjung Kim via TKO to claim not only the win and a performance bonus but the coveted US$100,000 main roster contract that brings him to August 14.

#Friday

The club will hopefully announce Bodø/Glimt striker Kasper Høgh on a multi-million pound deal, after the Bhoys struck a record-breaking £11m transfer fee with the Norwegian side for his services.
News last night, as reported on Celtic Shorts, was that the big centre-forward has completed a successful medical in London ahead of the club confirming his signing on a four-year deal later today.
Martin O'Neill is in the marketplace for several more major targets, as the squad is in desperate need of refreshment following a close shave in Scottish football last year.
Hearts and Derek McInnes gave the 5IAR Champions a good run for their money, after Tony Bloom's initial involvement at the Tynecastle club, which could have easily been avoided, had proper investment in the playing squad been achieved last summer, as Brendan Rodgers continually pleaded for.
Now reports from Spain have confirmed that the World Cup star will return to pre-season training with the rest of his Real Oviedo teammates this midweek, as the Hoops' hierarchy has yet to strike an agreement with the Segunda Division side for the transfer to proceed. That is another frustrating update for Celtic supporters, but one that we are well used to, unfortunately.

#last #celtic #transfer

Big news in the sports world this week as LeBron James finally made his decision about where he is going to play next year, and as you know he decided on the Philadelphia 76ers. So, what does that mean for his sports card and collectibles market?
Shrug emoji.
His cards were already starting to go up-up-up over the last few weeks or so in anticipation of not only his latest decision but in response to the massive Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant card market boom that has happened in the last few months. It seemed only right that the nostalgia and fomo would carry into the LeBron market.
And while many of his flagship Topps rookie cards are in the thousands of dollars, there are still some fun LeBron collectibles on the market that I think are worth grabbing and holding for the long run.
The Campioni di Futuro (mini) rookie card is maybe my all-time favorite. It's odd, it's adorable and it's under $100 for a raw. There's also numbered and different color variations, and while it may not bring you generational wealth, it certainly remains relatively rare for a LeBron rookie.

#market

FC Barcelona's pursuit of Julian Alvarez has reached a crucial stage after club president Joan Laporta confirmed that the offer made for the Atletico Madrid striker would not remain valid indefinitely.
Shortly after beginning his latest presidential term, Laporta made Barcelona's position clear.
"We have made an offer, but this offer is not unlimited in time."
Later, while in New York supporting the Spanish national team during the final stages of the World Cup, he narrowed the timeframe even further.
"The deadline for the offer is between the last week of July and the first week of August," he added.

#made #laporta #alvarez #atletico

As well as Yan Diomande and Rodri, Real Madrid have not yet ruled out the possible signing of another central defender. Ibrahima Konate has also been brought in as a free agent, but head coach Jose Mourinho wants to have another option at his disposal in time for the 2026-27 season starting in a few weeks' time.
Earlier in the summer, Nico Schlotterbeck had been Real Madrid's leading target, but after he picked up an ankle injury while on duty with Germany at the 2026 World Cup, club officials have pivoted to Alessandro Bastoni. Mourinho is also a big fan of the Inter Milan and Italy star, who could soon be set to make the move to the Bernabeu.
As per MD, Inter have agreed a deal to sign former Manchester City defender John Stones, and the expectation is this will open the door for Bastoni to move to Real Madrid later this summer, should an approach be made.
Real Madrid want to go for Bastoni, although they are clear that any new defender cannot be signed until someone leaves. Mourinho has already informed Raul Asencio that he is not in his plans for the new season, so he would be the prime candidate to leave, which would open the door for Bastoni to move to the Bernabeu.
Asencio has some interest in his services, but right now, there is no indication from the player himself that he wants to leave. Thus, Real Madrid may have a problem doing the necessary business to bring in Bastoni, which would be frustrating for Mourinho in his efforts to build the perfect squad ahead of the first season of his second spell as manager. For now, it simply remains to be seen how the situation plays out with both defenders.

#mourinho #bernabeu

Detroit — First, off came the shoes.
Then, off came the gloves — well, at least, what passes for that in the mostly congenial world of professional golf.
Longtime PGA Tour player Lucas Glover expressed annoyance with a fellow pro — or pros — on Monday when he clarified the strange incident that happened during Sunday's final round of the 3M Open in Minnesota. After making a birdie putt on the 10th hole at TPC Twin Cities, Glover turned around, walked back to the collar of the green and removed his golf shoes before walking back to the hole to retrieve his ball.
Glover then walked off the green in his socks, carrying his shoes. The clip of the incident quickly went viral.
In a statement Monday, Glover explained his reasoning. It turns out, a player — or players — had complained to a tournament official that Glover's metal spikes were causing damage to the greens, around the holes.

#shoes #Monday #player

Neither Guardiola, nor Ancelotti, nor Pirlo. The new coach of the Italian national team will be Roberto Mancini.
At 61, he returns to the role four years after being fired.
Mancini coached the Italy national team from 2018 to 2022. He won the Euro 2020 **** le (in 2021), but was fired a year later after the loss to North Macedonia in the 2022 World Cup playoff.
Mancini's last job was as coach of Al-Sadd of Qatar, which he recently left.
In addition to Mancini, Italy also appointed former coach Claudio Ranieri and Gabriele Oriali to replace Paolo Maldini and Leonardo.

#mancini #national #ancelotti

England international Hannah Hampton has signed a new two-year deal with Chelsea.
The goalkeeper's contract was set to expire this summer and it was key that Chelsea kept her as part of an effort to bounce back from a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.
After joining from Aston Villa in 2023, Hampton has become one of the world's best goalkeepers and cemented her position as first choice for the Lionesses.
The 25-year-old has won five trophies during her time in west London and was a standout performer as England won Euro 2025.
She won the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper at the Ballon d'Or awards last year and joins fellow England internationals Lucy Bronze and Aggie Beever-Jones in signing new Chelsea deals this summer.

#year #hannah