The Men's First Team are back in UEFA Europa League action, this time taking on French side Rennes on Matchday 3 of the League Phase.
The Bianconeri have performed well in the Europa League so far, beating NEC 5-0 and Celta Vigo 2-1. Luciano Spalletti's side will now hope to add another three points to their tally.
Rennes have also made a positive start, drawing 0-0 with Sturm Graz before beating OFI 2-1 on Matchday 2. Ahead of Thursday night's action, let's take a look at the last time Juventus beat Rennes.
Gallery | UEFA Europa League | Celta Vigo-Juventus
Juventus have only faced Rennes twice in competitive action, and they were the two legs of their UEFA Intertoto Cup final in August 1999.

#europa

Lazio stunned Juventus with a 3-0 victory at the Allianz Stadium yesterday, exposing the work still required for the Bianconeri to find consistency. The defeat was a major setback for Juventus, who had hoped to build on their late victory against Celta Vigo and deliver another strong performance in front of their home supporters.
Juventus were expected to be the stronger side after their European success, but they struggled to maintain their momentum. Without Luciano Spalletti on the touchline to direct the team, the Bianconeri found it difficult to control the contest and prevent Lazio from taking advantage of their opportunities.
Unlike in some of their recent matches, Juventus began with plenty of energy and intent. However, Lazio matched their intensity, making the opening stages an open and frantic contest in which both teams looked capable of creating danger.
Randal Kolo Muani appeared to have given Juventus the lead when he found the net, but his effort was ruled out for offside. Lazio then took their opportunity through Oliver Provstgaard, whose goal stood and put the visitors ahead.
Juventus gradually lost their momentum as the first half progressed, allowing Lazio to take greater control of the match. The home side struggled to regain the initiative, leaving them with plenty to address at the interval as they searched for a way back into the contest.

#home #side #struggled

Celtic are on high alert for the January transfer window with summer target Balazs Toth, the 29-year-old Hungary goalkeeper, resisting a new deal at Blackburn Rovers. (The Herald)
Andrew Cavenagh could follow up the sale of his company with a huge new investment in Rangers' finances, according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness. (Football Insider)
Rangers fear Olwethu Makhanya could have his head turned by growing interest from a number of Premier League clubs. (Football Insider)
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is confident Callum Osmand can shake off his hamstring injury in time for Thursday's crucial Europa League tie with Celta Vigo - but Yang Hyun-jun and Cameron Carter-Vickers will miss out again. (Scottish Sun)
Greenock Morton financial director Kenneth Weldin has refused to rule out the club falling into administration before the end of the year. (The Herald)

#celtic

Going into Sunday's game between Juventus and Lazio, the Biancocelesti hadn't won a game at the Allianz since 2017, back when Ciro Immobile was banging in goals and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic was blossoming into a full-on superstar. It was still the height of the Streak, before Beppe Marotta was forced out of the front office by Andrea Agnelli and Juve's long, slow decline began.
So yeah, a long time ago.
But that long unbeaten streak against Lazio at home ended with a thud. Juventus' attack continued to prove toothless, generating just two shots on target all night. They held Lazio to only three of their own — but the problem was that Lazio made the most of all three, ruthlessly finishing whenever they had the chance to polish off a 3-0 win.
Indeed, Juve were outplayed for much of the night. Whatever momentum they might have picked up from their last-second win over Celta Vigo midweek was nowhere to be found. They were on the back foot for much of the night, while Lazio at times played football that made you wonder where the **** Gennarro Gattuso was keeping this when he was failing to qualify for the World Cup with Italy seven months ago.
It was an awful game, through and through, and now it leaves everyone picking up the pieces.

#game #night #three

The Swedish centre-back was the unlikely goalscoring hero as Celta fought back to earn a 1-1 draw against Getafe in La Liga.
Martin Satriano had given Getafe the lead after 21 minutes, leaving Celta trailing at the interval.
But Starfelt dragged his side level in the 57th minute with an impressive finish from a corner, launching himself towards the ball and powering a diving header beyond goalkeeper David Soria.
Getafe were later reduced to ten men when Zaid Romero was shown a red card with around 20 minutes remaining, but Celta were unable to find a winner.
The result leaves the Spanish side still searching for their first league victory of the season, having recorded three draws and two defeats.

#back #minutes #martin

This Tuesday, the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or will be revealed.
And on Monday evening, some journalists started sharing a few insider tidbits. The most WTF of them: the presence of Sadio Mané and Julián Quiñones among the 30 nominees, as reported by independent journalist SamC_reports.
Pretty far-fetched stuff...
On Monday evening in Spain, Getafe were held to a 1-1 draw by Celta Vigo on matchday four of La Liga.
But the match was mainly marked by the incredible record achieved by Getafe goalkeeper David Soria.

#Monday

One Liverpool midfielder is set to leave the club permanently in the final 48 hours of the summer transfer window.
Stefan Bajcetic has been linked with a return to LaLiga in recent weeks, with Getafe having reportedly been in talks earlier this month before his former club Celta Vigo pounced to agree personal terms over the past few days.
The 21-year-old hasn't played for the Reds since May 2024 and didn't get on the pitch at all last season, with persistent injury problems having put his career on hold after his hugely promising breakthrough under Jurgen Klopp.
On Sunday evening, Vinny O'Connor reported for Sky Sports that the midfielder is close to leaving Liverpool permanently for Celta Vigo, with the Reds likely to retain a sell-on clause.
Negotiations are 'in the final stages' over a deal for the Spaniard to return to the club where he began his youth career, and the transfer is expected to go through before the 11pm deadline on Tuesday night.

#celta #vigo #reds

Osasuna and Getafe CF face each other this Monday at the Reyno de Navarra (El Sadar) for round three of the La Liga.
Osasuna have won 4 points to date and are placed in 7th position. In their last fixture, Luis Ramis's team won 1-2 against Celta de Vigo (La Liga 2026/27).
Getafe CF have 3 points to their name this season and occupy 9th position in the table. In their last game, José Bordalás's team lost 2-1 against Partizan (UEFA Conference League (Qual.) 2026/27).
The last meeting between the two teams ended with Getafe CF winning 1-0.
Osasuna ( vs Celta de Vigo 2026-08-27): Sergio Herrera, Íñigo Arguibide, Abel Bretones, Alejandro Catena, Asier Osambela, Jorge Herrando, Jonathan Dubasin, Lucas Torró, Jon Moncayola, Kike Barja, Raúl García

#liga #vigo #team

The summer transfer market has been shaken by Álvaro Morata's surprising move to CD Leganés, while the latest sports headlines are dominated by Julián Álvarez's absence from Atlético de Madrid's trip to Seville and FC Barcelona's tactical adjustments in attack.
The Madrid-born striker is behind the summer's biggest move after joining CD Leganés on loan from Como. The deal shakes up the second tier and makes the Spain international Leganés' main ***** et in their bid to return to the top flight.
For his part, Diego Simeone heads into the visit to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán without a recognized centre-forward after Julián Álvarez was confirmed unavailable. The Argentine's absence, prompted by his refusal to train during the final stretch of the transfer window, puts even more focus on the tactical setup the rojiblancos will use in Seville.
Meanwhile, in Barcelona, Hansi Flick is drawing up attacking alternatives. Faced with the complicated scenario of signing Julián Álvarez, the coaching staff are considering redeploying Raphinha as an out-and-out No. 9, trusting in his movement and finishing to lead the blaugrana attack.
On the international stage, the European draws have handed demanding matchups to Celta de Vigo and Real Sociedad in the Europa League, while Getafe will face more manageable fixtures in the Conference League.

#legan #seville #transfer #international

Celta de Vigo and Athletic Bilbao go head-to-head at Estadio de Balaídos this Sunday in the La Liga.
Celta de Vigo have 1 point to their name this season and occupy 14th position in the table. In their last fixture, Claudio Giráldez's team suffered a 1-2 reverse against Osasuna (La Liga 2026/27).
Athletic Bilbao currently have 0 points and lie in 19th position. In their last game, Edin Terzic's team lost 2-0 against Barcelona (La Liga 2026/27).
The last meeting between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw.
Unai Egiluz - Cruciate Ligament Tear

#position #team

The Europa League draw has also been completed and has given us some highlights for this season. You can find out which matches you can look forward to in our overview.
Bayer Leverkusen: Olympique Marseille (H), Olympique Lyon (A), RB Salzburg (H), Dinamo Zagreb (A), NK Celje (H), Lech Poznan (A), Besiktas (H), OF Iraklion (A).
Benfica Lisbon: AZ Alkmaar (H), AC Milan (A), Celtic Glasgow (H), Viktoria Plzen (A), Lech Poznan (H), Omonia Nicosia (A), OF Iraklion (H), NEC Nijmegen (A).
Juventus Turin: Real Sociedad (H), Alkmaar (A), Stade Rennes (H), Ferencvaros (A), Omonia (H), Celta Vigo (A), NEC Nijmegen (H), Hapoel Beer Sheva (A).
Olympique Lyon: Bayer Leverkusen (H), Real Sociedad (A), Union Saint-Gilloise (H), Anderlecht (A), Crystal Palace (H), Jagiellonia (A), Lillestrøm (H), TSG Hoffenheim (A).

#olympique #lech

Celta Vigo are reportedly "closing in on [a] personal terms agreement" with Stefan Bajcetic.
Fabrizio Romano shared the update on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday morning, with the midfielder looking unlikely to resurrect his Liverpool career.
The Spaniard's current terms are set to expire in the summer of 2027.
(Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
According to recent reports, the footballer is understood to have flown to Finland for fitness checks ahead of a mooted switch to La Liga.

#stefan #wednesday

Liverpool's midfield is set for a further shakeup following the departure of Curtis Jones to Inter Milan.
The 25-year-old joins the Italian champions for £30m - and there are indications that the midfield outgoings won't end there.
Stefan Bajcetic is expected to reach a deal to rejoin Celta Vigo while James McConnell could end up leaving on loan before the window slams shut.
You would imagine that Andoni Iraola can ill-afford any more headline departures from his midfield. But sporting director Richard Hughes could come under pressure if Manchester City firm up their interest in Alexis Mac Allister.
BBC Sport is reporting that the 27-year-old Argentina playmaker is wanted by new City boss Enzo Maresca amid a summer of big changes at the Etihad Stadium.

#curtis #jones #Inter #Milan

It has been a gala summer for Real Madrid in terms of youth player sales, both directly from the Castilla and in terms of indirect profits from external transfers.
All in all, the club have pocketed over €200 million from player sales this summer, and a massive part of that has arrived from departures of academy stars.
The most recent operation finalised was the departure of Jacobo Ortega who left for Strasbourg, and Sergio Arribas is also said to be nearing a big-money move.
Now, Defensa Central highlights another young player who could enter the same situation.
As relayed by the Spanish outlet, former Real Madrid player and current Celta Vigo star Javi Rueda is nearing a departure from the club, and Los Blancos continue to hold a promising stake.

#player #real #club #castilla

Girona FC and Al-Ittihad FC have reached an agreement for the loan of midfielder Unai Hernández until the end of the season.
Born in Malgrat de Mar on December 14, 2004, Unai Hernández, 21 years old, returns to a club he knows very well. After starting at the Olímpic Malgrat School, the footballer joined Girona in the Aleví category. In our youth football system, the player from Maresme spent seven seasons where he had a precocious trajectory. He was still a second-year youth player when he joined the reserve team, although he still played some matches with the youth team. In December 2021, Michel called him up to train with the first team, and shortly after, on January 2, 2022, he was part of the squad that traveled to play a league match against Huesca.
It was in the summer of 2022 when FC Barcelona signed Unai, who joined the Juvenil A team before later moving to the Barça reserve team. At this club, he also stood out for his talent. Xavi Hernández had him travel with the first team for the last league match of the 2022-2023 season against Celta. However, his debut with Barça's first team took place in ******* an, in a preseason match against Vissel Kobe. In Barça's reserve team, he became one of the most important players on the team. During the 2023-24 season, he played 38 matches and scored 10 goals.
In January 2025, he was transferred to Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Professional League. With the Jeddah team, he participated in nine matches and scored one goal before continuing his experience in Arab football on loan to Al-Shabab.
The new red-and-white player has excellent ball control, the ability to drive the ball, and enough technique to surpass opponents in tight ******* es. He is a footballer with a lot of personality and a remarkable shot.

#team #hern #ndez #Youth

A pair of Spanish clubs have on Tuesday closed a loan agreement for the season ahead. This comes amid confirmation that Carlos Domínguez has swapped Celta Vigo for Real Oviedo.
Stopper Domínguez is for his part a product of the academy setup at the aforementioned Celta, a club with whom he has spent the entirety of his playing career to date.
After building a solid reputation for himself at senior level over the years prior, however, last season, the 25-year-old was forced to contend with a major drop-off in prominence in Galicia.
All told, Domínguez was afforded just eight appearances across the length of the La Liga campaign.
Speculation had therefore begun to mount over recent weeks that the central defender could be farmed out on loan by Celta Vigo, to secure more regular playing time in 2026/27.

#vigo #season #carlos #real

The 2026/27 LALIGA season promises to be one of the most electrifying in recent memory. With multimillion-euro projects, marquee signings, and the return of historic clubs, the battle for the ****** le and survival will deliver high drama every matchday.
The Real Madrid dugout once again has the Portuguese coach as its leading figure. After strengthening with top-level names such as Cucurella and Diomande, Los Blancos are aiming to ****** the crown from FC Barcelona. However, in the Catalan capital there is no fear: the newly crowned champions boast a golden backbone made up of young world champions such as Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi and Cubarsí. The battle at the top is expected to be fierce.
Atlético de Madrid do not want to be mere spectators in this clash of giants. Diego Pablo Simeone takes on the challenge with high-profile arrivals such as Alejandro Grimaldo, Morten Hjulmand and Kang-in Lee. The big question surrounding the Colchoneros lies in their consistency; they will have to show whether this new project has the substance needed to challenge the two superpowers of Spanish football for the ****** le on equal terms.
Behind the favorites, the race for European spots will be fierce. Sides such as Villarreal, Real Betis, Real Sociedad, Celta de Vigo and Getafe have geared up to deliver a fascinating campaign. Meanwhile, Athletic Club begin with the moral obligation to win back their place in continental competition, which will raise the bar in the upper-middle tier.
The other side of the coin features illustrious clubs hit by hardship. Historic sides such as Valencia CF and Sevilla FC are forced to deal with difficult transfer windows and marked institutional instability. For their fans, the immediate objective is survival: grow stronger through adversity, avoid trouble in the standings, and try to restore former glories through total commitment.

#historic #sides #battle #survival

PSV Eindhoven have rejected Rangers' improved £6m offer for winger Couhaib Driouech and Burnley and Celta Vigo have now entered the race to sign the 24-year-old, with talks at an early stage. (Sky Sports)
Driouech has a slight preference for Celta Vigo after the Spanish club entered the race to sign the PSV Eindhoven forward along with Rangers. (Mounir Boualin)
Monaco have made Algeria 23-year-old Fares Ghedjemis their top priority for the right-wing position and plan an improved offer after a bid of £6m, plus £1.7m in bonuses, was rejected by Frosinone, who also turned down £8.6m bids from Celtic and Rangers. (L'Equipe - in French)
Saturday's Scottish gossip

#rangers #improved #offer #race

PSV Eindhoven have rejected Rangers' improved £6m offer for winger Couhaib Driouech and Burnley and Celta Vigo have now entered the race to sign the 24-year-old, with talks at an early stage. (Sky Sports)
Couhaib Driouech has a slight preference for Celta Vigo after the Spanish club entered the race to sign the PSV Eindhoven forward along with Rangers. (Mounir Boualin)
Monaco have made Algeria 23-year-old Fares Ghedjemis their top priority for the right-wing position and plan an improved offer after a bid of £6m, plus £1.7m in bonuses, was rejected by Frosinone, who also turned down £8.6m bids from Celtic and Rangers. (L'Equipe - in French)
Haissem Hassan has been left out of Real Oviedo's squad for their pre-season match against Le Havre on Saturday, with the 24-year-old Egypt winger the subject of a £9m bid from Celtic and awaiting the green light to have a medical. (Anthony Joseph)
Hassan is dealing with visa issues with an agreement in place to join Celtic on a contract until 2030, with Real Oviedo poised to make £6m, plus £1.3m more if they reach the Champions League proper. (George Tsarouchas)

#year #eindhoven #celta #hassan

Manchester United are poised to offload two goalkeepers, with Radek Vitek set to join Middlesbrough in a deal potentially worth up to £14 million, while Altay Bayindir prepares for a loan move to Celta Vigo.
Vitek, a 22-year-old Czech shot-stopper, is nearing a permanent switch to last season's Championship play-off finalists Middlesbrough following an impressive loan spell at Bristol City.
The young keeper initially arrived at Old Trafford from Sigma Olomouc in 2020, having also spent time on loan at Accrington and Blau-Weiss Linz before his successful stint at Ashton Gate.
The Press ******* ociation understands that United have secured matching rights and a buy-back option as part of the agreement with Boro, which includes bonuses that could push the fee to £14m, alongside a sell-on clause of up to 35 per cent.
Meanwhile, Turkey international Bayindir, 28, is close to finalising a season-long loan to La Liga side Celta Vigo.

#celta #manchester #radek

Abdoulaye Faye will join Celta Vigo on loan from Bayer Leverkusen with his medical scheduled for either Sunday or Monday, according to Sky Sports. The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Ligue 1 side Lorient.
The left-footed center-back was signed by Die Werkself from Lorient last summer. Before making his competitive debut for the Bundesliga club, he'll now leave for the second time, with the current deal also giving him experience in continental football.
Celta Vigo could face Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League next season as they finished sixth in the 2025/26 LaLiga season. Faye trained with Leverkusen's first team and also featured in their friendly games. The loan deal will not have a buy option for the Spanish club.

#season #last #club

Bayern Munich employed Nestory Irankunda, who is a highly gifted player blessed with explosive pace and clinical finishing. He has since moved on to Watford at the start of last year and his stock has risen considerably following his displays at the recently concluded 2026 World Cup. Naturally, clubs started taking notes and submitting bids, but Watford so far has ruled out any incoming offers (even Bayern doesn't have first dibs anymore):
Watford have rejected two bids of around £10m (€11.7) from Sporting CP and Celta Vigo for Nestory Irankunda. Both offers are well short of the English club's valuation. Bayern's sell-on clause has been reduced from 50% to 40%. After a renegotiation between the clubs, Watford bought back 10%. In addition, Bayern's buy-back clause has expired.
– Sky Sports' Anthony Joseph as captured by X account iMiaSanMia
Then again, Bayern making a move for Irankunda now is probably unlikely at this point due to the club needing to move on other players first before signing anyone else. If the former Adelaide United winger is eventually sold, Bayern could still get a handsome fee from him.

#nestory #clubs #offers #back

Watford have rejected two bids of £10m for Australian forward Nestory Irankunda from Portuguese side Sporting and Spanish club Celta Vigo. The Hornets have also bought back 10% of the 20-year-old's sell-on clause from Bayern Munich. (Sky Sports)
For more transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.

#Watford #australian #irankunda #hornets

Stefan Bajcetic has reached an important point in his Liverpool career, with pre-season now set to shape whether he remains part of the club's plans or moves on before the window closes. According to Matteo Moretto for Marca, the 21-year-old has support from the new head coach and a genuine chance to re-establish himself at Anfield.
Bajcetic was long viewed internally as one of Liverpool's standout young midfield prospects after arriving from Celta Vigo in 2020 and breaking into senior football two years later. Since then, injuries have had a major say in his trajectory. Setbacks across multiple seasons, followed by hamstring surgery in April 2025, meant he missed the whole of the 2025/26 campaign and left his development stalled at a crucial age.
Photo IMAGO
That context matters now. Bajcetic is back in training and, with Andoni Iraola beginning his work at Liverpool, there is a clean slate of sorts for several players on the fringes. Moretto reported that "Iraola likes him a lot." He added, "Iraola wants to keep him for now; he wants to see him during pre-season," before outlining the likely split in outcomes. "If he stays, he'll renew his contract with Liverpool. If not, he'll look for another club. He wants to return to Spain."
The contract position sharpens the issue. Bajcetic is entering the final year of his deal, so Liverpool will need clarity sooner rather than later. If the coaching staff are convinced by his fitness and level, an extension would make obvious sense. If doubts remain, the club may have to consider a sale while there is still some value to protect.

Crystal Palace have signed Celta Vigo defender Oscar Mingueza on a free transfer, subject to international clearance.
The 27-year-old Spaniard joins Palace on a four-year contract and is new head coach Pierre Sage's first summer signing.
Mingueza is a product of Barcelona's La Masia academy and made 66 appearances for the club following his senior debut in 2020.
The versatile defender then joined Celta Vigo in 2022, where he scored seven goals and provided 15 ****** ists in 147 appearances.
Mingueza said "it is an honour" to be joining Palace and added he is "really excited" to be at Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace have moved decisively in the market, reaching an agreement to sign Oscar Mingueza on a free transfer in what looks set to become the first arrival of Pierre Sage's tenure at Selhurst Park. The update was first reported by Fabrizio Romano, with Palace understood to have advanced quickly after fresh talks in the last 48 hours.
For a club whose summer had, outwardly at least, been relatively subdued, this is a notable piece of business. Palace are said to have identified the Spanish defender as a 'secret top target', and the fact the move has been wrapped up without prolonged public noise will be viewed internally as a positive. All terms are now agreed verbally, with the deal regarded as effectively done.
Mingueza joins the market as a free agent after his departure from Celta Vigo, giving Palace a chance to secure a player with top-level experience and tactical flexibility without committing a transfer fee. At 27, he offers a profile that should appeal strongly to Sage, particularly because he can operate at right-back or in central defence.
Photo IMAGO
That versatility could prove important over the coming months. Palace are facing a summer where the defensive unit may yet change further, and bringing in a player capable of covering multiple roles provides some protection against uncertainty. Mingueza has been described as 'phenomenal', and Palace will hope he can bring consistency as well as adaptability.

Amadou Onana’s World Cup is over. Worse still, his season is in tatters before it even began. The Belgium midfielder snapped his anterior cruciate ligament during a brutal knockout clash against the United States, leaving Unai Emery with a massive, gaping hole in the center of his pitch. Villa are returning to Europe’s elite tier, and they need a physical anchor right now.
VIGO, SPAIN – MAY 23: Ilaix Moriba of Celta Vigo celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Sergio Carreira during the LaLiga EA Sports match between RC Celta de Vigo and Sevilla FC at Estadio Abanca-Balaidos on May 23, 2026 in Vigo, Spain. (Photo by Diogo Cardoso/Getty Images)
Naturally, the rumor mill is already spinning. Spanish newspaper Faro de Vigo, via Sport Witness, claims that this sudden injury has forced Villa to look closely at Celta Vigo’s Ilaix Moriba. It makes sense on paper. The 24-year-old former Barcelona prospect matches the physical profile of the sidelined Belgian. Look closer at the actual report, though. There is zero evidence of fresh contact or concrete negotiations. It looks very much like a rehashed version of old transfer market links rather than a deal that is actually moving quickly.
Moriba did manage to rebuild his stalling career in La Liga last year after a terrible time with RB Leipzig. He played 36 league games and scored twice for Celta Vigo during the 2025/26 campaign. The Galician club paid £5.2m to sign him permanently last summer, locking him down until 2029.
He has decent numbers. Yet, he completely lacks the elite defensive presence needed to protect a Premier League backline. 152 defensive contributions across an entire season is a poor return. He disappeared in high-stakes matches. He handles discipline poorly too, picking up eight yellow cards last term.

Lazio left-back Luca Pellegrini could end up in the Premier League, with Hull City and Ipswich Town among his suitors.
The 27-year-old is a childhood Lazio supporter who realized his dream by joining his beloved club in January 2023. This season, he finally had a run in the starting lineup, with Maurizio Sarri dropping Nuno Tavares to the bench. However, the Portuguese ended up recovering his place in the starting XI towards the end of the season, so Pellegrini found himself on the bench again.
With only one year left on his contract, the Roman is expected to be sold this summer, especially following the arrival of Alfonso Pedraza, who completed a free transfer from Villarreal.
According to La Repubblica (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), Pellegrini has several admirers on the market, especially outside Italy. The newspaper reveals interest from the newly promoted Premier League duo of Hull City and Ipswich Town. In Spain, the left-back is well-liked by Espanyol and Celta Vigo.
Pellegrini was previously linked with Serie A sides, but Como had already signed a new left-back in Kaiki, while others would struggle to match his salary (circa €1.5 million per year). The Italian full-back made 90 appearances for Lazio in total, producing seven **** ists and only two goals, but he arguably scored the club’s best goal of the previous campaign

Tottenham target West Ham's Crysencio Summerville, Juventus consider Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey, Everton look at Pape Gueye and Mandela Keita to replace Idrissa Gueye.
Tottenham will try to sign West Ham's Netherlands attacker Crysencio Summerville, 24, having already picked up Portugal midfielder Mateus Fernandes, 21, from the relegated Hammers. (GiveMeSport)
Sunderland and Netherlands forward Brian Brobbey, 24, is being considered by Juventus as an alternative to their first-choice target, 27-year-old Frenchman Randal Kolo Muani from Paris St-Germain. (TuttoMercatoWeb - in Italian)
Everton will look to add Villarreal and Senegal international Pape Gueye, 27, or Parma's Belgian midfielder Mandela Keita, 24, if their Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye, 36, doesn't sign a contract extension. (Teamtalk)
Aston Villa are interested in Celta Vigo and Guinea midfielder Ilaix Moriba, 23, and are preparing a £15m bid. (Football Insider)

MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 16: Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid goes down with an injury during the Copa Del Rey match between Real Madrid and Celta de Vigo at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 16, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the World Cup with my family. It has rekindled a genuine passion for the game and deepened my appreciation for the skill, strategy, and athleticism that define elite soccer. Yet one persistent element continues to undermine the spectacle: the epidemic of fake injuries.
I simply cannot get past it.
Nor, it seems, can many others. A 2014 survey of soccer fans found that 83 percent cited feigning injuries as a major annoyance—the top complaint in the study.
As a practicing neurosurgeon who specializes in complex spine surgery, I see the brutal realities of genuine trauma every day—patients with spines shattered in car wrecks, falls from height, and legitimate spine sports injuries. These high-energy injuries often cause lifelong consequences that demand months or years of recovery.