BILD and transfer journalist Matteo Moretto reported Bayer Leverkusen are on the verge of signing Miguel Gutiérrez from Napoli. The Bundesliga side are tracking several profiles to fill the void left by Alejandro Grimaldo's move to Atlético Madrid.
While there are reports over positive talks with Marseille for Argentine defender Facundo Medina, Die Werkself could now close the file with the arrival of the 25-year-old from Naples. The transfer fee is reported to be somewhere between €25-30 million.
The former Spanish youth international played 28 Serie A games for Napoli last season. He also featured five times in their Champions League campaign that ended in the league phase. Gutiérrez joined the then-champions Napoli from Girona for €18 million last summer.

#napoli #guti #transfer

Cristian Romero remains one of the most closely watched defenders on the transfer market, with his future at Tottenham increasingly uncertain.
According to SPORT, Barcelona continue to monitor the Argentine international's situation, although any move for the centre-back would still depend on departures in Hansi Flick's defensive unit before the club can make a formal approach.
Meanwhile, comments from Tottenham manager Francesco De Zerbi have fuelled speculation that Romero's time in North London may be coming to an end.
Speaking about Romero's future, De Zerbi praised the defender's professionalism and commitment throughout his time under the Italian coach.
"Romero was incredible with me. Top level. His behaviour and his respect were outstanding," De Zerbi said.

#zerbi #time #argentine

Man City have agreed personal terms with Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli
Rulli wants to join City on a two-year contract despite interest from Sporting Lisbon
Marseille have received an offer from City, with the two clubs expected to reach an agreement
Manchester City have agreed personal terms with Geronimo Rulli on a two-year contract, with negotiations between the club and Marseille still ongoing, as per new reports.
The 34-year-old Argentine was identified by director of football Hugo Viana as his preferred option to fill the backup goalkeeper role left vacant by James Trafford's move to Leeds United, with City's hierarchy moving quickly to address the position after the Trafford deal was finalised.

#year #contract

Santiago Castro is finally a Roma player.
The Argentine introduced himself with his first interview with the club.
"I wasn't expecting such a welcome; it was wonderful from the moment I arrived in the city. You could feel the fans' enthusiasm even when I came to play here. I thank the club and the club for placing their trust in me and giving me the opportunity to play for the team from the capital," he began, commenting on his arrival at Termini.
Regarding the timing of the deal, he then clarified that he pushed to come to the capital: "It was a short negotiation; from the very beginning, I pushed to come here. I had a meeting with the sporting director, where he explained what they wanted from me. I know what I can offer and how to help the manager, and as soon as I spoke to them, I chose to come here."
Castro also spoke about Gasperini: "I like Gasperini's style of play. He's been doing well for many years at both Atalanta and Roma, leading them to the Champions League. I'll do what he asks of me; I'm ready to play anywhere."

#here #santiago

Bologna have officially announced their signing of centre-forward Artem Dovbyk on loan with an option to buy from Roma, following the news that Santiago Castro has moved in the opposite direction on a permanent transfer.
Recent reports indicate that Bologna have agreed to pay a fee of €3m to take Dovbyk on loan for the 2026-27 season and that they will have an option to make the transfer permanent for a further cost of €18m.
This move has gone through on the same day that Castro's move from Bologna to Roma was confirmed: The Giallorossi have signed the Argentine at a cost of €35m plus bonuses, with a 10% sell-on clause also included.
This marks the end of a two-year spell at the Stadio Olimpico for Dovbyk. The Ukrainian had joined in a €38m deal from Girona in the summer of 2024, following a 2023-24 season that saw him claim top scorer status in LaLiga.
Despite netting 12 goals from 32 appearances in his first season in Rome, Dovbyk's 2025-26 season was massively derailed by injury and fitness issues, which limited him to just 14 league outings across the season.

#bologna #option #following #transfer

According to SPORT, FC Barcelona have officially been notified of the complaint filed by Atletico Madrid over the club's pursuit of Julian Alvarez.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has opened disciplinary proceedings into the matter and given the Catalan club a deadline to submit their response.
The complaint centres on allegations that the Blaugrana held discussions with the Argentine striker while he remains under contract at Atlético until 2030.
The notification from the RFEF informs Barcelona that a formal case has been opened and grants the club several days to present its arguments.
Barcelona's legal team is already reviewing Atletico's complaint and intends to submit a full response defending the club's actions.

#sport

Franco Mastantuono looks increasingly likely to spend the upcoming season away from Real Madrid, with both the club and the player agreeing that a loan is the best step for his development.
Los Blancos have no intention of selling the Argentine teenager and are instead seeking a straightforward loan deal with no purchase option, allowing him to gain regular first-team football before returning to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Initially, Mastantuono hoped to earn a place in Madrid's plans, but the club's summer recruitment, particularly their imminent arrival of Yan Diomande, significantly increased the competition for attacking positions.
Now, according to AS, one option that has already been ruled out is a return to River Plate.
The Argentine giants explored the possibility of bringing their former academy star back earlier in the summer and renewed their interest in recent weeks.

#mastantuono #argentine #real

Manchester City are targeting a deal to re-sign veteran goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli to replace James Trafford.
Trafford is nearing a move to Leeds United, who have agreed a club-record deal for the goalkeeper worth an initial £40m. The 23-year-old wanted to leave the Etihad for a first-choice role, having spent last season as deputy to Gianluigi Donnarumma.
He made only four appearances in thePremier League last season, and 17 in all competitions, following a £31m transfer from Burnley.
Enzo Maresca is now searching for cover for Donnarumma with Rulli in City's sights. According toFabrizio Romano, the Cityzens are exploring a deal for the 34-year-old, who is open to the move from Marseille.
Rulli previously signed for Manchester City in a £4m deal in 2016, though never made a first-team appearance. The Argentine spent the 2016/17 season on loan at Real Sociedad, before joining the Spanish side permanently

#season #city #year

River Plate have opened formal negotiations with Real Madrid to re-sign teenage midfielder Franco Mastantuono on a season-long loan deal, according to football journalist Matteo Moretto.
The 18-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder is keen to return to his former club in Buenos Aires to secure regular playing time after a heavily disrupted debut season in Spain.
Mastantuono moved to the Santiago Bernabeu from River Plate last year in a high-profile transfer. However, he struggled to secure consistent minutes in a highly competitive Real Madrid squad
The teenager accumulated just 1,484 minutes of first-team football across 35 appearances last season, often coming off the substitutes' bench.
Mastantuono wants to return to River Plate. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

#Football

Serie A sides Milan and Roma have an increasingly heated market axis and the latest transfer between them could involve Matias Soule.
This week, the Giallorossi stepped forward for Christopher Nkunku. It was expected the two clubs could open discussions for other players, with the Rossoneri having rejected Roma's approach for the Frenchman.
But PianetaMilan note that it is Milan who have stepped forward for a Giallorossi player in Soule.
They have spoken to his entourage about a possible deal and their interest can grow in the next few weeks. Ruben Amorim is a fan of the Argentine's profile, as he seeks players who have a reliable 1v1 ability and can play in attack.
A move though would depend on Rafael Leao's Milan exit. If he leaves for the required fee of €50 million, they could use that to sign Soule. But for now, the Portuguese staying at Milan is holding up the Rossoneri's entire transfer window and they don't want to wait until August to seal incomings.

#transfer

Atlético Madrid star Julián Alvarez has been advised by sources close to him to take into consideration issuing a personal apology to his employers.
This comes after the Argentine went public with his desire to depart the Metropolitano amid interest from La Liga rivals Barcelona.
The name of frontman Alvarez has of course positioned itself centre stage in the media headlines throughout Spain across the summer to date. After Robert Lewandowski was allowed to depart the aforementioned Barcelona on a free transfer, the 26-year-old was identified as the ideal replacement.
Desperate to secure a Camp Nou switch, Alvarez therefore confirmed whilst on international duty that:
"I spoke with people at the club, with those I had to speak with and the best thing for everyone is ‌a transfer. I want to fulfil my dream."

#Barcelona #juli #metropolitano

Among the many talented youngsters Real Madrid have in their ranks, one is undoubtedly Franco Mastantuono.
The 18-year-old Argentine youngster was signed last summer, and he faded away after a bright start to the season under Xabi Alonso.
This summer, Los Blancos have appointed Jose Mourinho and also reached an agreement to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig, making it very difficult for Mastantuono to have a prominent role here.
Now, according to Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, the teenager's immediate future at Real Madrid is set to become clearer this week, with the club set to meet with the player's camp.
Real Madrid will hold talks with Mastantuono's agents in the coming days as they evaluate whether the Argentine remains with the first team or heads out on loan for the 2026-27 season.

#real #madrid #mastantuono #argentine

Arsenal are adopting a patient approach in their pursuit of Julian Alvarez, hoping Atletico Madrid continue to resist FC Barcelona’s attempts to sign the Argentine striker before making their own move.
Indeed, according to The Times (h/t SPORT), the Premier League club believe they could persuade Alvarez to join them if his dream transfer to Barça ultimately proves impossible.
Arsenal are said to have prepared proposals for both the player and the Rojiblancos, with the aim of completing a swift deal in August should circumstances change.
For now, however, everything hinges on whether Alvarez is willing to intensify his efforts to force Atletico into negotiations with Barcelona.
Much like Hansi Flick at Barcelona, ******* nal manager Mikel Arteta has identified Alvarez as the ideal striker to lead his team’s new-look attack.

#arsenal

After Spain defeated Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, social media users fuelled speculation about alleged FIFA favouritism with a video that appeared to show blue fireworks set off at the end of the tournament, and that it was proof that the body had only prepared for the South Americans' victory. AFP photos and footage from media outlets all show that the fireworks were white, not blue.
"Spain's victory actually crashed FIFA's show," reads a Douyin video's caption in simplified Chinese shared on July 21.
It contains a screenshot of an X post published on July 20, showing blue fireworks at a stadium, while a Spanish flag was visible in the middle.
"If FIFA World Cup final was not rigged, why were the fireworks the colours of Argentina? Their plans were ruined by Spain," the post says, implying that the fireworks match the main colours of Argentina's flag ( archived link ).
The claim feeds into the conspiracy theory that FIFA has repeatedly displayed favouritism toward the Argentine team and skipper Lionel Messi (archived here and here ). FIFA's refereeing chief previously responded that these were "unfounded allegations" ( archived link ).

#spain

It has already been two weeks since Jose Mourinho returned to Real Madrid, and more than ten days since the start of preseason training at Valdebebas. During this time, the Portuguese coach has had to work without most of his first team players, but he has been able to make a good ***** sment of the players who have been training under him.
In fact, some recent reports suggest that he has also made decisions about the future of some of these players. For instance, he has already let the defender Raul Asencio know that he is not part of his plans, and thus, should start looking for a new club.
Meanwhile, the forward Franco Mastantuono has been another player for whose departure the coach has reportedly given the green light. However, according to a report from MARCA, the Argentine has also been one of the players who has impressed the new coach the most since the start of preseason training, and although the possibility of a departure remains, the youngster knows he can still earn a place in the squad.
Two of Mourinho’s predecessors on the Real Madrid bench, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, both gave several opportunities to Mastantuono to shine and lock down a place in the starting eleven. However, he was unable to take advantage of these opportunities, and lost prominence after a few games under both managers.
For now, Mourinho understands that he will have to restore the player’s confidence and to make him feel comfortable if he is to continue at the Merengue club. Meanwhile, Real Madrid are also considering loaning him out, as they did with Endrick last season, to allow him to adapt to European football in a lower-pressure environment, and several clubs from the Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga are interested.

#players #training #meanwhile #mastantuono

Juventus have picked up the telephone once again. According to reports coming out of Sport Mediaset, relayed by Transfer Feed, the Italian giants made fresh contact with Aston Villa regarding Emiliano Martinez shortly after the World Cup wrapped up. Turin has admired the 33-year-old Argentine stopper for a ***** long time now. This latest whisper suggests they haven't entirely given up the ghost just yet. Don't hold your breath though.
The very same report makes it abundantly clear that a move to Serie A is looking dead in the water. Why? Money, mostly. The financial demands floating out of Martinez's camp are described as astronomical. Combine that with Villa having zero reason to move him on, and you have a total non-starter. Unai Emery views the World Cup winner as an absolute cornerstone of his project at B6.
Looking back at the 2025/26 campaign, it is easy to see why. Martinez clocked up 32 Premier League appearances, bagging eight clean sheets and recording a 71.1% save percentage. He let in 37 goals across the domestic run while pulling off 96 saves, earning a solid 7.07 average match rating. Add a shiny Europa League winner's medal to the mantlepiece from that season too. He is pivotal. Plain and simple.
Villa Park bosses are sitting pretty. Martinez inked a fresh deal that keeps him tied to the West Midlands until June 2029. That puts every single card squarely in Villa's hands. They don't need the cash. They certainly don't want to lose their main man between the sticks. Crucially, the player himself hasn't thrown his toys out of the pram or demanded an exit. The real stumbling block here is his entourage.
Agent demands are currently knocking on doors that Juventus simply cannot open. The Old Lady has her own financial belt to tighten these days. Throwing silly money at inflated wage demands for a goalkeeper in his mid-thirties, no matter how decorated his trophy cabinet happens to be, is a gamble the Italian club just cannot afford right now.

#italian #looking

Roma’s transfer market is experiencing one of its most heated phases: after seeing Greenwood, Garnacho, and Summerville all disappear at once, the Giallorossi must now seriously push to give Gasperini the four signings he has repeatedly requested.
Tony D’Amico continues to have a large list of names, especially in attack. But given the current situation, one of the key players in that department for next season could be Matias Soulè.
According to Il Messaggero, the Argentine’s chances of wearing the Giallorossi jersey for a long time to come are high, despite numerous transfer rumors suggesting several teams have their eye on him.
Gasperini is looking for strikers with different characteristics than the Mar de la Plata native, but this doesn’t rule out Gasperini’s desire to entrust him with the key to the attack next year.
Furthermore, it’s important to emphasize that, despite interest from several clubs, the 2003-born player has always put Roma first and has never considered leaving the capital. Soulè is still eager to prove himself, and Roma is ready to offer him the right platform to shine.

#giallorossi #next #greenwood

Luis Suarez scored twice and Preston Plambeck grabbed a late winner as Inter Miami, without Lionel Messi, beat Chicago Fire 3-2 on Wednesday to spoil Robert Lewandowski's Major League Soccer debut.
Uruguayan veteran Suarez captained Miami with Messi and fellow Argentine Rodrigo de Paul missing four days after Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the World Cup final.
The 37-year-old Poland striker Lewandowski was making his MLS debut having signed from Barcelona after they were crowned Spanish champions.
Prolific goalscorer Lewandowski, who also starred for Bayern Munich from 2014-2022 and has more than 700 goals for club and country, started for Chicago and played 63 minutes.
But it was 20-year-old Plambeck, a product of Miami's youth system, who emerged as the unlikely hero, coming off the bench to score the 87th-minute winner.

#Miami #messi #luis

Argentina's top football officials on Wednesday firmly denied reports that their federation's president and treasurer were detained and questioned upon leaving the United States after the World Cup final.
The Argentine Football ***** ociation (AFA) did, however, acknowledge a US investigation into a third party with links to the ***** ociation.
The organization issued a statement following media reports that its president Claudio Tapia and treasurer Pablo Toviggino had been detained at New York's John F. Kennedy airport before boarding the flight transporting the national squad home after their loss to Spain Sunday.
The pair were reportedly detained for questioning and had their electronic devices seized by US authorities, before being summoned to appear in court regarding AFA's international contracts.
But an AFA statement denied all of the reported claims as "absolutely false."

#wednesday

Aston Villa have launched an ambitious loan bid for Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho. TalkSPORT broke the news, relayed by Transfer Feed, revealing that Villa are trying to lock down personal terms with the 21-year-old Argentine after inserting a conditional obligation-to-buy clause into the proposal.
Stamford Bridge officials haven't formally greenlit a temporary exit just yet. Still, Garnacho's name sits firmly on the transfer list. That in itself is a staggering turn of events. Chelsea spent £40 million to ****** him from Manchester United only last August, yet his stay in West London has turned sour fast.
Speaking publicly about the situation, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso didn't hide the interest brewing elsewhere. He acknowledged that sporting directors are actively locked in talks, expressing hope that the saga ends on good terms for everyone involved. Chelsea initially slapped a £42.5 million price tag on the wide man. In fact, both Garnacho and Nicolas Jackson were dangled in front of Villa during negotiations for Morgan Rogers.
Things haven't gone to plan. Not even close. Garnacho arrived in West London with plenty of fanfare, but his 2025/26 Premier League campaign was an absolute grind. Opta data tells a grim story: 24 appearances, 1,268 minutes on the pitch, and a solitary goal paired with four ****** ists. He took 33 shots all season and managed an abysmal shooting accuracy of just 21%.
Compare that to his final year at Old Trafford. He bagged six goals and two ****** ists across 36 league matches for United, looking every bit like a top-tier talent in the making. That sharp drop in composure inside the penalty box has spooked plenty of onlookers.

#garnacho #transfer

Spain midfielder Gavi does not believe Argentina's Leandro Paredes should be suspended for his part in the confrontation following the World Cup final.
Argentina players Paredes, Nahuel Molina, Thiago Almada and ****** istant coach Roberto Ayala all appeared to be involved in the fracas on the pitch as Spain celebrated their 1-0 win.
Paredes seemed to push Spain's Eric Garcia by the throat and unused substitute Gavi tried to intervene but was forced to the ground by Almada.
Paredes pushed the Barcelona midfielder to the turf by putting his hand in the Spaniard's face.
Fifa has appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to ****** s what happened and any player or coach involved could receive a suspension while the Argentine Football ****** ociation could also be fined.

#spain #involved #Argentina

Juventus remain at a standstill in negotiations with Aston Villa for Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, which could force the Old Lady to turn to either Guglielmo Vicario from Tottenham Hotspur or Noah Atubolu from SC Freiburg according to the latest updates.
The Bianconeri have been hoping to strengthen their goalkeeping department this summer after an uninspiring season from Michele Di Gregorio in 2025-26, and for several weeks, World Cup runner-up Dibu Martinez has been the club's first choice.
However, despite the fact that there is an agreement in principle on personal terms in place with Martinez, Juventus have been unable to negotiate a fee with Aston Villa.
The Premier League side are adamant that they want at least €12m for the 33-year-old, while La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Juventus are unwilling to match these demands.
La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Juventus's only remaining hope is that Martinez himself is able to persuade Aston Villa into accepting a bid from Turin once he returns from World Cup duty.

#dello

Grêmio is still looking in the market to sign a center-back to partner Gustavo Martins, following the departure of Viery, who was sold to Fiorentina.
According to ge, the coaching staff believes that veteran Kannemann, at 35, does not have the physical condition to cope with an intense marathon of matches.
The Tricolor's problem is its financial limitations when it comes to investing in a replacement. The club has a strict wage cap and wants to avoid major spending on the purchase of economic rights.
The names of Argentines Matías Moreno and Nicolás Valentini, both linked to Fiorentina, have emerged as alternatives for the position.
Talks for Moreno, however, have not progressed. The player prefers to remain in European football, and the Italian club is demanding a permanent transfer, which rules out the loan model sought by the Gaúchos.

#club #according #kannemann

Spain and Manchester City star Rodri made a point of publicly defending Barcelona's Ferran Torres during the country's World Cup celebrations.
This of course comes after the 26-year-old proved himself the decisive figure in La Roja lifting just their 2nd-ever world ******* le.
Ferran was introduced off the bench on Sunday evening, as Spain locked horns with then-champions Argentina on the grandest stage in all of football.
And en route to an eventual 1-0 triumph, the former Manchester City man notched the only goal of the evening. Laid on courtesy of a clever Nico Williams knock-down, Ferran made no mistake in directing an unerring left-footed strike into the Argentine net.
This proved to be a moment of validation for the attacker, who has long been singled out for criticism by fans for his performances at club and international level alike.

#made

Fox announcer John Strong badly booted a celebrity spotting during the World Cup final on Sunday.
As Argentina battled Spain in the latter's eventual 1-0 victory, the camera focused on actor Matt Damon watching the match with his Argentine wife, Luciana Barroso Damon.
Sports: Fox Sports ***** yst Cooks Up Wild World Cup Conspiracy Theory About Red Card On U.S. Team
"Brad Pitt also among the fans here," Strong said with authority.
Right movie-star milieu. Wrong dude.

England are one game away from reaching their first World Cup final in 60 years, but standing between them and that opportunity is Lionel Messi.
Speaking to the media in Atlanta on Tuesday, Thomas Tuchel was asked the question everyone expected: how do you stop a player widely regarded as the greatest of his generation?
Messi has already written another chapter in his remarkable World Cup career, becoming the tournament's outright leading scorer with 21 goals after finding the net again during Argentina's run to the semi-finals. Tuchel admitted the thought of ******* igning a player to mark Messi closely had crossed his mind, but he stopped short of revealing exactly how England would approach the challenge. What makes Messi so difficult, he explained, is his ability to read situations before anyone else on the pitch.
The England manager spoke openly about the problems Messi creates. He highlighted the way the Argentine constantly works the ball onto his left foot, often creating ******* e before defenders even realise the danger is developing. Even if a team manages to shut down one aspect of his game, Tuchel acknowledged that players of Messi's calibre usually find another way to influence the match.
While much of the focus centred on Messi, Tuchel was also asked about the history between England and Argentina. The fixture has long carried extra significance, with memories stretching back to moments such as Diego Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" goal in 1986. Tuchel, however, insisted his players would not be drawing motivation from the past, saying a World Cup semi-final against Argentina is big enough on its own.

Marc Guéhi says England are unfazed about facing world champions Argentina this evening
The Three Lions are looking to reach the World Cup final for the first time in 60 years against the South Americans.
But City defender Guéhi says the England players aren't feeling any pressure ahead of what is a huge game.
On the contrary – he believes it is the Argentines who will feel the weight of expectation.
"There isn't pressure on us," Guéhi said. "What's the pressure? The onus is on them.

Aside from the storied World Cup history between England and Argentina, the national teams' meetings have had political undertones since the Falklands War in 1982.
The Falklands – or "Malvinas" by their Argentine name – is an archipelago off the Atlantic coast of Argentina, but operates as a British Overseas Territory. With their sovereignty in dispute, Argentina's military junta invaded the territory in 1982.
The British sent its fleet across the Atlantic and retook the islands after a 74-day conflict resulting in 907 deaths.
Anticipating an intense crowd Wednesday in Atlanta, Argentina's security minister Alejandra Monteoliva, said enhanced measures had been discussed at a meeting in the United States. With the historic tensions Atlanta police are upping security and plan to deploy 1,600 officers around the match.
Monteoliva said Argentina fans would not be able to take any flags or banners into the stadium which claimed sovereignty over the islands.

England manager Thomas Tuchel joked about Lionel Messi potentially coming into their semi-final clash against Argentina at less than 100%.
Another chapter of the iconic footballing rivalry between England and Argentina will enter the history books at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ahead of Lionel Messi's first-ever clash against England, manager Thomas Tuchel joked about the one thing he's hoping happens to Messi before their clash on Wednesday.
When asked about what major Argentine strength he'd want to take away in the semi-final, Tuchel cracked a joke about Messi catching a cold before emphasizing he wants both teams at a 100%.
"Maybe that Messi will have a cold tomorrow. No no no, we wanna play against the strongest Argentina, and we want to be the strongest England. Of course we'll try to beat them, we want to beat them, and we'll try to find solutions. We want to take the advantages away on the field and be worthy winners."

Barcelona are not putting all their eggs in one basket as they continue their pursuit of Julian Alvarez.
While the Atletico Madrid forward remains the club's preferred target to strengthen Hansi Flick's attack, the operation has become increasingly complicated, prompting the Blaugrana hierarchy to explore alternative options.
On that note, according to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have already begun ******* sing a list of potential replacements should a deal for Alvarez ultimately fail to materialise.
Barcelona's opening proposal of €100 million for Alvarez was reportedly met with a firm response from Atletico Madrid, who are said to value the Argentine at €120 million while also asking for a high-profile player to be included in the deal.
The Catalan club have no intention of accepting those terms, leaving negotiations at a delicate stage.