Barcelona star Alejandro Balde remains outside the plans of head coach Hansi Flick as things stand. This comes with the Spaniard having been knocked well down the left-back pecking order in Catalunya's capital.
Defender Balde was of course heavily linked with a move away from Barcelona during the summer transfer window.
After it was widely reported that the Spaniard had been made available for the right price, Premier League giants Manchester United were hotly tipped as a potential landing spot.
In the end, Balde stayed put, eager to fight for his place in the plans of long-time employers Barca. But as alluded to above, as of this moment, the 22-year-old has not managed to win back the trust of his manager.
As per a report from Diario Sport, following the breakout of youngster Xavi Espart, and permanent signing of João Cancelo:

#Barcelona #plans #back

The second half of Real Madrid's summer transfer window was headlined by Jose Mourinho's incessant demands for a second centre-back signing.
While the club did sign Ibrahima Konate in the summer, the new manager saw a real need for a second starting-quality central defender, especially given Eder Militao's uncertain fitness and Antonio Rudiger's age.
One of the players who Mourinho saw as a top target, on that front, was Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni who will play at the Santiago Bernabeu later today in the first game week of the UEFA Champions League.
In a recent update, Diario AS confirm the reasons why Real Madrid did not end up signing Bastoni this summer despite the player being Mourinho's top target.
For starters, Inter Milan refused to let the player leave this summer for even a dime less than €70 million, and even the player was in no hurry to leave the club.

#player #bastoni #target

Franco Mastantuono's loan move to Fiorentina was supposed to provide the fresh start he desperately needed after a difficult debut season at Real Madrid.
Instead, the Argentine is finding life in Italy just as challenging, with his latest outing against Torino on Saturday offering little encouragement.
Three games into the Serie A season, Mastantuono is yet to find his feet, and Fiorentina's results have been equally poor.
As reported by Diario SPORT, Mastantuono had one of Fiorentina's best opportunities of the first half against Torino, latching onto a loose ball and finding himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
It was the kind of chance he was sent to Italy to convert. But the 19-year-old failed to find the net, and the miss proved costly.

#mastantuono

The summer window may have just closed, but Barcelona are already planning for January, with a significant financial decision looming on the horizon.
The club have approximately €60 million available in their Financial Fair Play allocation, giving them room to manoeuvre in the winter market should they choose to.
However, that money could also serve a very different purpose, particularly for the season ahead.
Barcelona bosses have a decision to make. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
According to Diario SPORT, Barcelona face a clear choice with their available FFP funds.

#caparros

Real Madrid's recent 1-0 defeat at the hands of Real Betis was an early reminder that the team still requires a lot of work, especially when it comes to calming the dressing room.
Nevertheless, Real Madrid will be dealt with yet another tricky contest this midweek as they take on Inter Milan in the first match of the Champions League this season.
Heading into this crucial encounter, Jose Mourinho is facing a major dilemma, with at least four midfielders missing for different reasons.
Mourinho will miss four midfielders vs Inter. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
As reported by Diario AS, Real Madrid will miss no less than four midfielders heading into their game against Inter Milan.

#Inter #midfielders #Milan #heading

One of the most significant moves for Real Madrid on the deadline day of the summer transfer window, surprisingly, had nothing to do with a direct departure or arrival from the club.
Instead, it was the sale of Chema Andres who moved from Stuttgart to Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League for a big fee, part of which Real Madrid were entitled to as they held 50% of the player's rights.
The youngster, thus, became part of a historic transfer window for Real Madrid where the club made over €200 million from youth player sales, windfalls and other similar operations.
As reported by Diario AS, Chema's move from Serie A to the Premier League closed for a sum of €23 million last night, making it a costly operation for Brighton.
Owing 50% of his rights, Real Madrid pocketed €11.5 million straight from the transfer and will be pleased with that development. There is, however, a twist.

#real #madrid #million #brighton

Real Madrid kept up their winning run at the start of the new La Liga season by beating Malaga last night with a 4-0 scoreline. Before that, they had defeated Espanyol 1-2 away from home and Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Keeping in view the quality in their squad, the win against La Real must have been valued more by the Merengue players and fans in general. However, one individual who would value the win against Malaga more must be the goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, as this game brought him his first clean sheet of the season.
Overall, the Belgian star did not have a lot to do in the last night's game. He had to make only a single save, even though the visitors appeared threatening at some points in the game. As Diario AS has reported, the goalkeeper also talked to the media after the game, and commented on his first clean sheet of the season and some aspects of the Real Madrid team.
The Belgian veteran came up with a fair ****** ysis of the game against Malaga:
"The first half was very good. In the last five or ten minutes, we dropped too deep and they created chances. We didn't play as well in the second half; we had several chances, but we gave them too much of the ball. The fourth goal means the game ends well. 4-0 is a good result."

#belgian

After their wins against Espanyol and Real Sociedad, Real Madrid played their third game of the new season against the newly-promoted Malaga side. The Merengue team lived up to the expectations they had raised with their last game's performance against La Reale, as they scored another four goals in this match to win it 4-0.
Jude Bellingham was inarguably the best player on the pitch in this game, and once again showed his lethal form. He scored an amazing solo goal a few minutes into the first half, and then forced another own goal from a Malaga defender. Beyond the goals, his overall performance on the pitch was also excellent.
As Diario AS has reported, the Englishman also talked to the press after this game and commented on his personal form and his team's performance. Talking about the match against Malaga, the midfielder was still somewhat unsatisfied despite the good result:
"The first half was a great game, but the last 20 minutes… absolutely terrible, I think. I don't know why, but we weren't good."
Bellingham highlighted one particular aspect that is allowing him to shine on the pitch:

#pitch #scored

With the summer transfer window slamming shut soon, the future of Marc Casado will likely dominate the headlines for now.
The midfielder has yet to secure an exit from Camp Nou despite having been identified as surplus to requirements by Hansi Flick and his troops.
RB Leipzig were credited with interest in the midfielder recently but have since dropped the pursuit. That leaves Besiktas as the ones firmly in focus.
Casado has no place in the Barcelona team. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
According to Diario SPORT, Besiktas have been one of the most interested clubs since the start of the summer and have intensified their pressure in recent days to convince both Barcelona and the player to sanction a move.

#since #camp

After winning the first two games of the new season, against Espanyol on the road and Real Sociedad at home, Real Madrid are set to face the newly-promoted Malaga in their next La Liga game, which is scheduled to take place at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.
The Merengues have already been training for this game for some days, and Jose Mourinho held the latest training session ahead of this game on Saturday. As has been the case since the start of the season, the Portuguese coach will remain without several players, including Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, Raul Asencio, Aurelien Tchouameni, Thiago Pitarch, Rodrygo, and Endrick.
Tchouameni and Endrick's cases are not as severe as those of the other mentioned players, but they are still not at a competitive fitness level, and thus are highly likely to miss the game against Malaga. The other players continue to recover from their longer-term injuries. As a result, Mourinho called up several players from the academy, including Sergio Mestre, Mario Rivas, Cestero, and Alexis Ciria to fill up his ranks.
Meanwhile, Diario AS reports that there was another surprising presence at Valdebebas during this training session, i.e., the Real Madrid legend, Sergio Ramos. The former Merengue defender and captain visited the club's training facilities during this session.
The Spaniard is currently without a club after having ended his time with the Mexican side Monterrey. Several years after his departure from the Spanish capital, he still remains one of the most beloved players in the history of the white club.

#several

Real Madrid rose to the top of the La Liga table on Wednesday after recording a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu. Kylian Mbappe (x3) and Vinicius Junior got the goals for Jose Mourinho's side, who have started the new campaign with back-to-back wins.
It was not a vintage performance from Real Madrid – as Mourinho himself made clear after the match – but in the end, they did more than enough. As per Diario AS, captain Federico Valverde spoke to RMTV to dissect proceedings at the Bernabeu, and on the whole, he was happy as the squad's leader.
"I saw the team switched on, with a lot of desire. We lacked patience when we scored the first goal, to have the ball and hold on to the result. The talk at half-time did us good and the second half was spectacular. (At half time) we emphasised the pressure. We adjusted it and in the second half we were much more comfortable."
Valverde also spoke glowingly on Mbappe. He set up the Frenchman for his opening goal of the night, and he is clear that he and his teammates must continue to feed him chances, as that is how Real Madrid will score a lot of goals.
"We have to enjoy Mbappé. We have to give him a thousand ******* so that he scores a lot of goals, is comfortable and feels happy. What he has done today he has done throughout the year."

#bernabeu #spoke

It has been a while since the Rodri saga between Barcelona and Real Madrid ended once and for all.
Los Blancos looked favourites to sign him from the start of the summer, but the Catalan club leapfrogged them and secured the player's signature.
Rodri has since been unveiled as a Barça player and, ideally, everyone should have moved on from whatever happened before.
However, the Spaniard's decision to join Barcelona instead of Madrid continues to generate reactions from the Spanish capital.
Speaking in the mixed zone after the Espanyol game (h/t Diario AS), Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was asked about Rodri and offered a rather blunt response.

#Barcelona #blancos #however

Benfica and Aston Villa have both made initial enquiries to sign Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde, according to Diario SPORT. The 22-year-old has reportedly instructed his agent, Jorge Mendes, to find him a new club before the transfer window closes.
Hansi Flick and Deco do not consider Balde a priority, according to reporting relayed by Tribuna. Barcelona are prioritising João Cancelo's return to reinforce the backline. Balde's reduced priority and his willingness to consider a move have been reported as separate developments.
Joao Cancelo presents his FC Barcelona jersey during his official unveiling.
Benfica have submitted a proposal of around €20 million, with Barcelona's valuation expectations presenting an obstacle. The report says creative sell-on clauses would be required to bridge that gap.
Aston Villa remain interested in signing a top-class left-back, but any move for Balde is contingent on the club generating late transfer funds through player sales.

#benfica #aston

There is no doubt that Real Madrid have had a very exciting summer transfer window, with the addition of up to six new players, and also the return of Jose Mourinho as the team's head coach. However, one aspect that might leave some of the fans not fully satisfied is the lack of reinforcements in the midfield.
The Merengues have signed a highly experienced and reliable midfielder in Bernardo Silva, but as Mourinho himself put it in a recent press conference, the signing of Rodri Hernandez, who ultimately decided to sign for Barcelona, would have been the icing on the cake.
Although Los Blancos were unable to land the World Cup MVP, they might still land another midfielder, albeit one who is significantly far below the level of the former Manchester City star for now, before the transfer window closes.
This possible signing is the Racing Club midfielder Sergio Martinez, who recently made his debut in La Liga and has been linked with Real Madrid in recent days. He has been enjoying interest from other clubs as well, including from Barcelona, Villarreal, and Atletico Madrid, but according to Diario AS, has decided to sign for the Merengue club, despite them offering him only a reserve team place for now.
The report claims that the move can be finalized after Martinez plays the La Liga game between Racing and Getafe this weekend. In his first game in the top division, he scored a wonderful goal that turned out to be the goal of the Matchday 1.

#midfielder #mourinho #club

The Open Thread/Daily Merengue is a place where you can discuss anything and everything related to football. Feel free to discuss the topics presented here, or start your very own discussions! The Open thread will be posted every day by one of the mods you'd totally go sunbathing with: Valyrian Steel, Felipejack, Kung_Fu_Zizou (AKA KFZ), Juninho, Ezek and, of course… yours truly.
Well, actual-match-day anyway…
The reported XI by diario makes sense, but…
Uh… Now, about Mourinho and leaked XI's…
I mean, I can see why we would consider changes in personel after such a wave—well, waveS—of injuries. But does anybody know this one?

#thread

Real Madrid may have missed out on Enzo Fernandez and Rodri, but they still look set to add a new midfielder to their ranks. Jose Mourinho had hinted that no more signings would come in before the transfer window closes, although that may no longer be the case.
However, there is a caveat: the signing would not be for the first team – at least not right now. According to Diario AS, Real Madrid are seeking to sign Sergio Martinez from fellow La Liga side Real Racing Club de Santander. The 19-year-old, who scored a spectacular goal in the 2-2 draw against Villarreal last weekend, can be signed for only €3m, which is the value of his release clause.
Real Madrid are one of several clubs to have informed Racing of their intention to sign Martinez. He is a player that has been on their radar for some time, but his performance against Villarreal has led to a move being made now, as they seek to ensure that they are the ones to secure his signature by the end of the transfer window.
Despite the fact that Real Madrid can very much afford to pay Martinez's €3m release clause, the report notes that they are seeking to agree a deal with Racing instead. If they do so, they must choose between two choices: bring him in to play for Castilla, or keep him at the Cantabrians – which will happen if it is believed that he will feature regularly for them in La Liga.
Bringing in Martinez makes a lot of sense for Real Madrid, given they have already lost – and will continue to lose – young midfielders. Cesar Palacios has gone to Fulham, while Manuel Angel is one of several that is expected to be sold before the summer is over. Thus, replacements are needed.

#racing #liga #villarreal #seeking

Although the six signings made by Real Madrid would excite the fans the most, another very prominent aspect of the club's transfer market activity has been the sales of youth academy talent which have provided them with a very significant cash injection, reaching up to €200 million.
The most notable of these academy players and graduates who have undertaken moves away from the Merengue club this summer include Gonzalo Garcia, Nico Paz, Cesar Palacios, Victor Valdepenas, and Mario Martin. Meanwhile, Los Blancos have also earned money from the sales of players like Victor Munoz and Alvaro Rodriguez, other La Fabrica graduates on whom they had sell-on clauses.
However, these departures, and the earnings they entail, have not yet come to an end. As Diario AS has reported, another youth academy player, Jacobo Ortega, has now completed his move away from Real Madrid, as he joined the Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg Alsace in exchange for €10 million. Los Blancos will keep 30% of the player's rights and have already confirmed his departure.
This is another very good piece of business from the Merengues, as the youngster becomes the club's most expensive sale of a player who had not yet made his debut with the first team. Ortega was still registered with the Real Madrid C team, but had already shown his talent and potential by being the top-scorer in the UEFA Youth League last season.
Jacobo Ortega has now signed a five-year contract with Strasbourg, and at 20 years of age, has taken a very important step in his career. Hopefully, he will continue to develop at the French club and turn out to be an important player for them going forward. The youngster still has several years of growth and development ahead of him, but if everything turns out well, he can become a top-level forward in Europe, and maybe return to Real Madrid one day.

#madrid

The brass at Real Madrid have been responsible for the best part of half of the spending on the transfer market in Spain's top-flight across the summer to date.
This of course comes as Florentino Pérez and co. continue work towards building a squad capable of wrestling back La Liga supremacy from arch rivals Barcelona this coming season.
Los Blancos, thus far this summer, have secured the signings of six players. Two have come in the form of free transfers, namely Ibrahima Konaté and Bernardo Silva.
The other four, though, have required those in a position of power at the Santiago Bernabéu to open their chequebook.
To tie up deals for Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella, Yan Diomandé and Carlos Espí, Real Madrid have been forced to part with a collective €225 million. And as since revealed by Spanish outlet Diario AS, putting this outlay into perspective:

#summer #florentino #blancos

Real Madrid are set to play their final friendly game of the preseason tomorrow when they will travel to Germany to face Schalke 04. This match has been hosted by the German side on the 25th anniversary of their stadium, the Veltins-Arena.
As Diario AS has reported, the Merengues have published the squad for this game, and there are significant changes in the list over the last friendly played against Deportivo. The most notable addition is that of Yan Diomande, who is now the most expensive signing in the history of Real Madrid, while other new signings like Marc Cucurella and Ibrahima Konate have also been named in the squad for the first time.
Three other important players, Thibaut Courtois, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappe have also been named in the squad for the first time this summer, as they returned to the Merengue club quite late after going quite advanced into the World Cup, and thus starting and ending their holidays late.
Another important player who still remains absent and who would not be able to participate in even a single friendly this summer is the midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni. He is suffering from a serious thigh strain and thus is unavailable for this match. Similarly, Endrick has also not been named in this list as he is following a special injury prevention plan.
This last friendly will be an opportunity for Jose Mourinho to field his strongest attack, with Vinicius, Mbappe, and Diomande all available, and also his defense for the next season, as Cucurella and Konate will be available to play.

#named #real #madrid #diomande

A member of the summer recruitment drive at La Liga giants Real Madrid is in line for a starting berth in the club's opening fixture of the new campaign.
That's according to Diario AS, who highlight Denzel Dumfries as the player in question.
Defender Dumfries was of course snapped up by the Bernabéu brass earlier this summer, in a cut-price deal from Italian champions Inter Milan. The Dutchman has since gone on to play a leading role for Real Madrid in pre-season, featuring from the off against all of Fiorentina, Ferencváros and Deportivo La Coruña.
And if the latest word stemming from the Spanish media is anything to go by, then this level of prominence is no coincidence…
Dumfries is already understood to have earned the full trust of new head coach José Mourinho. So much so that, as per a report from AS, despite competition from Trent Alexander-Arnold:

#real

The board at La Liga giants Real Madrid are ready to sanction the sales of another pair of the club's up-and-coming young talents. The duo in question? Manuel Ángel, and David Jiménez. That's according to Diario AS, who have this week provided an insight into the situation.
The efforts of the brass at the Santiago Bernabéu on the sales front have of course proven headline news across Spain over the course of the summer to date.
This comes with Florentino Pérez and co. having seen years of diligent work in securing sell-on clauses, percentages and more pay off in spectacular fashion.
To this point in the window, through a combination of new sales and previous clauses, Real have secured major fees for the likes of Nico Paz, Gonzalo García, Víctor Muñoz and Mario Gila.
And as alluded to above, the influx of funds in Spain's capital does not look set to end there, either…

#sales #course #manuel #santiago

La Liga giants Barcelona have drawn up a three-man shortlist of targets to reinforce the heart of the club's backline over the final weeks of the transfer window.
That's according to Diario Sport, who have provided an insight into the latest developments behind the scenes at the Spotify Camp Nou.
The situation at the heart of Hansi Flick's Barca backline has of course changed considerably over the course of recent days.
After Ronald Araújo made the call to take his talents to the Premier League with Liverpool, the Spanish champions have all of a sudden been left looking somewhat short on options at the back.
With as much in mind, Deco and his team of directors have begun scouring the market for potential defensive reinforcements. And as alluded to above, this search has already culminated in a trio of leading targets emerging in Catalunya's capital.

#spotify

Diario Sport, as reported by Sport Witness, says Everton, Liverpool and Fulham have entered the race for Barcelona right-back Héctor Fort. Inter Milan had considered the Spain U20 international, yet their interest has cooled after Djed Spence arrived from Tottenham. That leaves three Premier League clubs in contention, with Everton holding the strongest position because Barcelona believe the Merseyside club can put forward the most attractive proposal.
Fort, aged 20, had hoped to stay at the Camp Nou, but his situation has changed. Reports say Hansi Flick has left him outside his plans, and the defender has been training separately from the main group. Barcelona want a permanent transfer this summer rather than another loan, while the Catalan club want a significant future sell-on percentage.
Fort spent 2025/26 on loan at Elche, where La Liga records credit him with 14 appearances, 482 minutes, two goals and two **** ists. He scored once in three Copa del Rey matches, taking his season total to three goals.
UDINE, ITALY – AUGUST 08: Hector Fort of Barcelona looks on during the Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup match between Udinese and Barcelona at Bluenergy Stadium on August 08, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
The need at right-back is obvious, but desperation should never dictate the fee. Jake O'Brien covered the position during pre-season, including Everton's 3-1 defeat at Stuttgart, while the club have searched for a specialist option. Andy Burnham has urged the club to solve the problem. That pressure doesn't make a €15m-€20m upfront payment sensible.

#sport

In the last couple of weeks, there has been increasing speculation surrounding the future of Real Madrid forward Endrick. The 20-year-old is facing a significant lack of minutes during the 2026-27 season after the club confirmed the signings of Carlos Espi, which has led to reports that he could be set for another loan exit.
Endrick has been identified as someone that can operate on the right wing and through the middle for Real Madrid, but with Diomande and Espi respectively having been brought in to address those positions, it has led to questions as to whether the Brazil international will be counted on by head coach Jose Mourinho.
Several clubs have registered their interest in Endrick on the back of this, with the latest being Aston Villa. However, they will not be getting him, with Diario AS reporting that Real Madrid have decided against letting their number 9 depart the club before the end of the summer transfer window.
The decision on Endrick has been made after consultation with Mourinho, who believes the youngster has a significant role in his squad for the upcoming campaign. This has been to the delight of president Florentino Perez, who holds Endrick in high regard, as was shown by the decision to pay €60m for him in December 2022.
Endrick's priority has always been to remain at Real Madrid, as he believes in himself to made an impact. However, he himself does not rule out leaving at some stage if it becomes clear that he is not going to see minutes under Mourinho, but for now, he is happy to stay and fight for his place in the attacking line-up.

#madrid #mourinho #club

Real Madrid's spending spree this summer is set to have major repercussions to some of the existing stars in the team.
One of the unlikely victims is Endrick. After coming back from a successful loan spell at Lyon, the Brazilian has found himself surplus to requirements at Real Madrid.
Jose Mourinho is not too keen on utilising his services heading into the new season, with the Portuguese manager already having the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., Yan Diomande and Rodrygo under his disposal.
Endrick is surplus to the requirements at Real Madrid. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Getty Images)
According to Diario AS, Endrick is now seriously weighing up another loan move, having listened to offers since the signing of Carlos Espi was confirmed.

#requirements #lyon

Roma face more competition for Real Madrid starlet Endrick, as Spanish reports claim Aston Villa have joined them in trying to get the Brazil international on loan.
The Giallorossi had positioned themselves as the hot favourites to bring in Endrick, in case Real Madrid were to agree to a loan for this season in a similar situation to Franco Mastantuono at Fiorentina.
They were confident that their presence in the Champions League and promise to provide regular playing time would put them in pole position.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 3: Endrick #19 of Brazil during training at Columbia Park Training Facility on June 3, 2026 in Morristown, New Jersey. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Getty Images)
However, Diario AS now report that Aston Villa have stepped forward with a proposal to take Endrick too.

#endrick #Brazil #york

Barcelona are actively involved in two key pursuits in the transfer market right now.
The club remain in contention to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid even though Diego Simeone's men have no desire to let him go.
The Catalans are also in talks with Manchester City to sign Rodri, who has opted to join Barcelona ahead of Real Madrid, leaving many, including Fernando Morientes, disgruntled in the process.
Flick wants to have Rodri available as soon as possible. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
According to Diario SPORT, Barcelona are pushing to accelerate the Rodri operation, with Hansi Flick keen to have the midfielder at his disposal as soon as possible.

#Barcelona #madrid

The Brazilian star Vinicius Junior has already returned to Real Madrid after participating in the World Cup and spending his holidays. With his arrival, the drawn-out operation of his renewal has entered its most decisive phase.
Despite having been engaged in negotiations for several months, the two sides have not been able to arrive at an agreement. In the last few days, the Premier League side ***** nal has been strongly linked with the forward, adding another dimension to this saga.
In such a context, reports emerged some days ago that Real Madrid have let the player's entourage know that their latest offer is the final one, and there will be no new negotiations going forward for his renewal.
However, Diario AS reports that a meeting took place between some club officials and Vinicius' entourage, in which a middle ground was reached. The Merengues increased their offer, while still not reaching the figures demanded by the Brazilian, and the club has made it clear that this offer is not unlimited in time, and they expect a response soon.
Further revealing the terms of this new offer, the report claims that Los Blancos are now offering the winger around €24 million in yearly wages, while he was demanding more than €30 million. Furthermore, they are offering him several bonuses that have convinced the player that his economic remuneration will be enough for his satisfaction.

#real #madrid #renewal #forward

Atlético Madrid star Julián Alvarez has ******* ured those in a position of power at La Liga rivals Barcelona of his readiness to do whatever it takes to push through a transfer this summer.
That's according to Diario Sport, who have on Wednesday provided a fresh insight into the situation.
Frontman Alvarez has of course been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona throughout the summer, considered the ideal Robert Lewandowski replacement by Hansi Flick and co.
To date, however, Atlético Madrid have refused to budge even slightly in their stance that the Argentine is not for sale under any circumstances, particularly to a direct rival.
But as alluded to above, Alvarez, it would appear, has not yet given up hope of ultimately sealing his dream Camp Nou switch this summer. In fact, this is far from the case…

#summer #juli

Rodri has made his preference unambiguous: Real Madrid or nothing, according to Diario AS, with Barcelona's recent enquiry failing to register as a genuine alternative in the Manchester City midfielder's thinking. The Spanish newspaper reports that the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner is unfazed by the Blaugrana's interest and has a singular desire to return to his home city and play in white.
Rodri has not been coy about his intentions. Speaking publicly earlier in the saga, he made clear that declining an offer from one of the world's best clubs was not something he was prepared to do, and that the door on his end remained open. That has not changed since Barcelona entered the picture.
Diario AS report that despite an evident on-field chemistry with several Barcelona players through the Spain national team – Pedri and Lamine Yamal among them – Rodri has given no indication that Camp Nou holds any appeal. The only shirt he is thinking about is Real Madrid's. Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich had also been linked at various points, but both pulled back from a move once it became clear he wanted the white shirt, according to Goal.
Barcelona's interest, per Goal citing Cadena SER, has not yet progressed to a formal approach to Manchester City. Barcelona made contact with Rodri's entourage but have yet to speak to City directly. Frenkie de Jong's injury sparked Barcelona's interest in Rodri, though the Catalan club have since learned where his priority lies. Barcelona's focus remains on completing the signing of Cancelo and a striker following Robert Lewandowski's departure, and Goal notes that after spending 110 million euros on Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Jesse Baesio, finding a further 75 million euros for Rodri would be very difficult.
The awkward reality for Rodri is that his preference is not yet matched by equal enthusiasm from Los Blancos. Diario AS reported earlier in the year that Rodri did not feature in the club's future plans, and The Times noted that interest at the Bernabéu had cooled, with concerns about his fitness underpinning the hesitation.

#diario #goal #made #preference