Roberto De Zerbi says he is hopeful of another "bomba" signing at Spurs this summer.
The club have already been active in the transfer market, splashing the cash to bring in Sandro Tonali, Jan Paul van Hecke and Mateus Fernandes, along with the free transfer signings of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi.
But the Tottenham boss says he is only "60% done" in the transfer market.
"In the transfer market when I want one player I become like a shark," De Zerbi joked. "No chance to say no.
"The transfer market, it's not finished for sure, but we completed 60 per cent of our project in the transfer market. Now we have another bomba."

#transfer

Alan Shearer has been left baffled by the "strange timing" of Eddie Howe's shock departure from Newcastle, admitting that the development is "not a good look" for the club.
Howe is understood to have left the Magpies after five years in charge, with the 48-year-old's exit coming just hours after a 4-1 pre-season defeat to Bristol City.
Newcastle are yet to officially comment on Howe's decision to leave, but his departure has been described as amicable.
It plunges Newcastle into more turmoil this summer amid a number of high-profile exits, having already sold Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, while captain Bruno Guimaraes has been heavily linked with ****** nal.
Alan Shearer (right) was left baffled by Eddie Howe's exit (Getty)

#alan

Eddie Howe is expected to leave his role as Newcastle head coach less than a month before the start of the Premier League season.
Howe's impending departure was reported by outlets including the BBC and the Press **** ociation on Thursday.
He has been in charge of Newcastle for nearly five years and during that time ended the Saudi-backed club's decades-long wait for silverware.
Howe took charge of Newcastle's 4-1 preseason friendly loss to Bristol City on Wednesday, which may have been a pointer to a difficult campaign ahead following departures of star players this summer.
Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have left during this transfer window and there is speculation captain Bruno Guimaraes could follow.

#newcastle #eddie #league

Eddie Howe is set to step down as Newcastle United boss after almost five years in charge, the Press ******* ociation understands.
The 48-year-old arrived on Tyneside in November 2021 and ended the club's 70-year wait for domestic silverware with League Cup glory in 2025.
His time in charge also saw the Magpies twice qualify for the Champions League.
However, last season was a disappointment as Newcastle limped to 12th place in the Premier League.
The Magpies have also endured a difficult summer transfer window with the departure of stars Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, while speculation continues over the future of captain Bruno Guimaraes.

#league #newcastle #united

Eddie Howe will reportedly leave Newcastle United in the coming days, less than a month before the start of the new Premier League season.
The 48-year-old remained in charge of the first team following talks with the club's hierarchy after a disappointing campaign in which they failed to qualify for Europe, finishing 12th in the table.
Newcastle have since sold key players Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon, while Bruno Guimaraes has been heavily linked with a move to ***** nal.
According to The Athletic, Howe has told Newcastle he wants to "take a break from football" and leaves on "amicable" terms, with the club "well prepared" for his exit.
The Magpies already have a successor lined up, with Matthias Jaissle of Al Ahli set to replace him in the dugout. The German coach has won the AFC Champions League twice with the Saudi club, who are also owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

#newcastle #eddie #sandro

Eddie Howe has lost key players Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon already this summer while ******* nal are trying to sign their captain Bruno Guimaraes.
There is obviously a level of frustration from Howe at the direction the club are going in their summer recruitment, though the coach was aware of the necessity for the club to sell players this summer.
Earlier this year, Howe had decided to remain at St James' Park regardless of the inevitably about selling players.
But over the summer, his perspective has changed and he will now be leaving.
In an era of financial regulations, just because you have wealthy owners doesn't mean you can spend big in the transfer window. You have to abide by those rules and that is where Newcastle have come unstuck this summer.

#howe #tonali #arsenal

Napoli are zeroing in on Benoit Badiashile to complete their defense, which won't have Alessandro Buongiorno for a few months because of a knee injury, while Sam Beukema is dealing with a tricky Achilles issue, Corriere dello Sport informs.
The center-back opened the door to the destination. His personal terms won't be an obstacle. On the other hand, the Partenopei aren't close to concurring to a deal with Chelsea, as they are angling for a simple loan.
Napoli would be able to evaluate Badiashile for a season that way, as he has dealt with a number of physical problems in recent years. He made just 16 appearances in 2025/2026, for a total of just over 1000 minutes. The Blues invested €40M for him in 2023. They don't seem too keen on a temporary formula at the moment.
The Azzurri have also expressed interest in Jean-Clair Todibo, but he's not too high on their shortlist. Olympique Marseille are targeting him with more conviction. Federico Gatti remains a viable fallback. Instead, a proper investment would be needed to sign Tiago Gabriel from Lecce. He has a €30M price tag, while the Serie A runner-ups value him a lot less. He'd be useful for the lists, though, given his young age. Juan Jesus' return has also been pondered. He's still without a team after his contract ran out.
If they are concerned about Beukema's availability, they'll need a lot more than another injury-prone center-back to be serene for the entire season. It's time for them to seriously contemplate a splash at the position, without worrying about a potential future logjam.

#napoli #badiashile #won 't #season

Eddie Howe was described as "detached from reality" by one Newcastle United fan, with another unsure "what game he was watching" after giving his final interview before leaving his role as Magpies boss.
Newcastle were thrashed 4-1 by Championship side Bristol City in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday evening and Howe was interviewed by the club's official website in the aftermath.
He appeared surprisingly upbeat despite the heavy loss yet, on Thursday morning, news emerged that he would be leaving his job just weeks before the start of the new Premier League season.
The Englishman guided Newcastle to their first domestic trophy in 70 years when they won the Carabao Cup in 2025 but last season was a disappointment as they finished 12th and failed to secure European football, meaning Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have been sold this summer, while captain Bruno Guimaraes has been linked with ***** nal.
Eddie Howe has now left Newcastle (PA)

#championship #bristol #city

Eddie Howe leaves Newcastle United
Howe leaves after five years in the job
The 48-year-old had agreed to continue in the role in May
Howe led Newcastle to Champions League qualification in 2023 and 2025, and Carabao Cup success last year
Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon have departed Newcastle this summer

#eddie #champions

Eddie Howe is leaving his role as Newcastle manager after five years at St James' Park, the BBC and Sky reported on Thursday.
The 48-year-old joined the Magpies in 2021 and won the League Cup final in March 2025 -- the club's first major trophy since 1969.
Newcastle have been depleted by the departures of Sandro Tonali to Tottenham and England forward Anthony Gordon to Barcelona in recent weeks.
The club lost 4-1 to Bristol City in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday.
jw/mw

#magpies

Luka Doncic is reportedly going to welcome his Los Angeles Lakers teammates to Slovenia later this summer.
The Lakers have undergone a major rebuild following LeBron James' departure, with eight new players joining the team.
These new additions include Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin ****** ton, Kevon Looney, and Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images
Given the huge roster turnover, the new-look Lakers must focus on building their team chemistry ahead of next season.

#slovenia #james

Bayern Munich's new defender Nathaniel Brown will wear the No. 11 shirt for the club.
The versatile left-back will be wearing the number in a rather unorthodox manner, as the No. 11 is normally ***** ociated with forward players. While defensive players definitely have worn similar numbers before, it is still considered a departure from tradition.
However, Bayern is no stranger to odd number choices, with backup striker Sandro Wagner choosing the No. 2 and central midfielder Xabi Alonso wearing the No. 3 in his debut season. The latter did switch to his preferred No. 14 in the season after, though.
According to board member for sport Max Eberl, as captured by iMiaSanMia, the number was originally offered to winger Michael Olise, who wears the number for France. However, Olise reportedly wanted to keep his No. 17 shirt for Bayern. Whether the number was also offered to fellow winger Luis Díaz is unknown.
Bayern's No. 11 has had a variety of owners over the past decade, including Douglas Costa, James Rodríguez, and Kingsley Coman. The number was most recently worn by Chelsea loanee Nicolas Jackson. Perhaps the most notable player who wore it was Stefan Effenberg, who captained Bayern to a Bundesliga and Champions League double while wearing said number.

#number #wearing #worn #season

Teenage forward Luca Williams-Barnett stole the show in Tottenham's 4-2 penalty shootout win over Sydney FC in a sign of how the club have changed.
The 17-year-old, who started the second half on the left but moved into his favoured attacking midfield position, opted for the first penalty and nonchalantly chipped a panenka down the middle.
It preceded a shootout in which Sydney FC duo Joe Lacey and Alexander Popovic hit the post and had a penalty saved by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, with Sandro Tonali, debutant Andrew Robertson and Dane Scarlett all scoring to secure victory after a 1-1 draw.
Williams-Barnett stole the show to such an extent that his manager Roberto De Zerbi was describing him as a "precious diamond" after the match.
He added: "We have to work on him in the final third and he must work hard on his physicality. I've worked with a lot of young players in my time and he's a potentially special player."

#show #luca

Roberto De Zerbi has told Lucas Bergvall he must show the "right spirit" if he wants to stay at Tottenham amid speculation linking the midfielder with a move away from the club.
The uncertainty comes after Bergvall made his first pre-season start in Spurs' 1-1 draw with Sydney FC on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old endured a challenging 2025-26 campaign, making only 17 starts and frequently playing out of his preferred position. This summer has seen further competition arrive in the centre of midfield with the big-money signings of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.
It is understood that bids from Nottingham Forest and Newcastle for Bergvall this month have been rejected. However, the midfielder could still depart Tottenham before the transfer window closes, driven by his desire for regular first-team football in the upcoming season.
Despite De Zerbi speaking positively about the Swedish international staying at Spurs after the Sydney draw, an element of the unknown persists regarding immediate plans for Bergvall.

#TOTTENHAM

Tottenham Hotspur continued their unbeaten pre-season with a penalty shootout victory over Sydney FC after a 1-1 draw in Australia, where Mathys Tel produced the game's standout moment with a spectacular first-half free-kick.
The French forward opened the scoring in the 29th minute, curling a superb effort into the top-right corner from 25 yards to cap an impressive opening-half display. Sydney hit back after the interval through Takahiro Sekine, but Martin Dúbravka's save in the shootout proved decisive before Dane Scarlett converted the winning penalty to seal a 4-2 victory.
Tel's display came amid continued links between Tottenham and Manchester City winger Savinho. Having completed his permanent £30 million move from Bayern Munich earlier this summer, the 20-year-old continued his encouraging start to life as a Spurs player with another eye-catching performance on the left flank.
Roberto De Zerbi rotated his squad throughout the contest, handing Lucas Bergvall his first pre-season minutes after the midfielder returned to action amid uncertainty over his future. The Swede started in midfield before making way at half-time for club-record signing Sandro Tonali, who made his latest pre-season appearance.
Andy Robertson also featured for the first time in Tottenham colours after coming on during the second half. The Scotland captain was handed the armband for his 25-minute cameo, created two chances, forced a save with a low effort and calmly converted his penalty in the shootout.

#victory

Fabio Paratici has wasted no time stamping his mark on this Fiorentina squad. He's brought in 5 new players already and more are coming. That's good news: the Viola needed to refresh a stale, ailing group. What I'm interested in, though, is the senior players the new sporting director has sold. No, I don't mean outcasts like Lucas Beltrán and Amir Richardson and Alessandro Bianco. I don't mean unfortunate salary casualty Robin Gosens. No, I mean all the academy-trained talent in the system.
Until the Viola create a B-team, it will lose a crop of academy kids every summer. Most of them never had a chance of breaking through to the first team. For the handful who might have the quality, finding an acceptable path within the club is difficult. The most common outcome is what happened to, say, Eduard Duțu last year: a promising young defender, he ended up on 7 loan deals before leaving Florence for good last year without ever making a senior appearance. Guys like Luca Ranieri—loans to Foggia, Ascoli, SPAL, and Salernitana before breaking through—are the exception. It's rare for to see one of these youngsters take that final step.
Young players matter to fans in a way they don't to the club itself. For fans, every 17-year-old who dribbles a 3rd-tier defender in preseason becomes a future star. That's not just luxurious thinking. We need that fantasy—the academy contains untold riches—because it reinforces two narratives that sustain us, especially through the lean years. First, we get to believe that we know ball and can identify buried talent because that allows us to think of ourselves as knowledgeable, superior, and in control of something over which we actually exert no control. Second, we get to think that Fiorentina is doing something better than other clubs, allowing us to enjoy vicarious success and prove to ourselves that there's a reason to support an organization that constantly falls short.
The other bit is that fans connect with kids they've watched grow up more than they do with senior players brought in on the open market. There are Borja Valero exceptions, of course, but in a vacuum, we'd all prefer an academy product more than a player of equal talent who transferred in. It demonstrates that the club's process is successful. It also provides a connection to the city: every time you see a kid like Tommaso Martinelli post a picture of himself as a child in the Curva Fiesole, it reinforces the depth of feeling the locals have for the club in a way that nothing else can.
Fiorentina has enjoyed unprecedented success at youth level in the Commisso era. Daniele Galloppa led the kids to their first scudetto in 43 years, adding that trophy to 4 Coppe Italia and 2 Supercoppe since the 2019-2020 season. There's been a rich seam of talent at the RBCVPetc, churning out senior internationals (Federico Chiesa, Jan Mlakar, Michael Kayode), promising youngsters (Daniele Ghilardi, Edoardo Pierozzi, Costantino Favasuli) and steady veterans dotting t

West Ham United defender Jean-Clair Todibo is attracting transfer interest from Napoli, according to respected transfer journalist Gianluca DiMarzio.
The Hammers signed the Frenchman two years ago for big money, but he has struggled to live up to expectations in England.
West Ham do not necessarily need the funds following the big-money sales of Crysencio Summerville and Mateus Fernandes.
However, Todibo's inconsistent performances, and perhaps desire to play in a more prominent league, could push him out of the London Stadium.
The Italian club is searching for replacements for the injured Alessandro Buongiorno. They are eyeing several options, including Tiago Gabriel, Benoit Badiashile, and Federico Gatti.

#transfer #napoli

Sassuolo have reached a basic agreement with Verona for Scotland international striker Kieron Bowie, on loan with option to buy for €10m, with Samuele Mulattieri going the other way.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – MARCH 08: Kieron Bowie of ***** as Verona scores his team's second goal during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and ***** as Verona FC at Renato Dall'Ara Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Sportitalia transfer pundit Alfredo Pedullà maintains today's discussions bridged the remaining gaps between the clubs and they are well on the way to completing this move.
It will see Bowie remain in Serie A, where he impressed in the six months since leaving Hibernian for €6m in January.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – MARCH 08: Kieron Bowie of ***** as Verona celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and ***** as Verona FC at Renato Dall'Ara Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

#verona #dall 'ara

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

#martinez #centre #last

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

#mourinho #bernabeu

Magic Johnson is optimistic about the Los Angeles Lakers' summer rebuild following LeBron James' departure.
The Lakers have signed seven new players, including two draft picks, to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
These include former Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler and ex-Toronto Raptors forward Sandro Mamukelashvili.
However, Johnson appears most pleased with the Lakers' one-year, $3.3 million signing of Matisse Thybulle.
Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

#Lakers #johnson #Magic #lebron

Real Madrid have plans to sign a second central defender this summer to come in alongside Ibrahima Konate, who joined from Liverpool at the start of the month. Head coach Jose Mourinho wants another player to choose from when the 2026-27 season gets underway next month, and he’s set his sights on someone from one of his former clubs.
Earlier in the summer, it was reported that Real Madrid had set their sights on Alessandro Bastoni. The Inter Milan and Italy defender is appreciated by Mourinho, who sees him as the ideal final piece for his defensive options. And according to the player’s agent (via Diario AS), there would be a desire to make a move happen in 2026, although there is also no obvious rush to leave the Nerazzurri.
“Bastoni has two years left on his contract with Inter, he loves these colours and right now he is not considering signing for another club. If in the future a club appeared that satisfied both Inter and the player, we could talk about it, but right now there is nothing concrete to suggest a real negotiation. I don’t think he has ever considered leaving Italy.”
David Alaba had been the only natural left-sided option for Real Madrid up until his exit earlier this summer, so it makes a lot of sense to secure an appropriate replacement. Bastoni would certainly be that, so it would be smart if the club’s sporting department were to make a serious effort to agree terms with Inter in the coming weeks.
It remains to be seen whether Real Madrid and Mourinho can get their man. For now, the club is happy to focus on exits, although there is sure to be more incoming activity sooner rather than later.

#Inter #mourinho #summer

Newcastle United have completed the signing of midfielder Aladji Bamba from Monaco.
The transfer has gone through for an initial fee of £30m, with a further £5.5m possible in add-ons.
The 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract at St James' Park and will wear the club's number eight shirt.
Head coach Eddie Howe described Bamba as a player with "huge potential for growth", praising his development since breaking into Monaco's first team and he was nominated for this year's Golden Boy award as one of the best young talents in the game.
Bamba represents a direct replacement for Sandro Tonali, who departed for Tottenham Hotspur last month.

#year #park #head #eddie

Chelsea are reportedly ready to challenge ******* nal for the signing of Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
The West Londoners broke their transfer record earlier this week to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa and are continuing to invest as part of a rebuild under Xabi Alonso.
Next in the Spaniard’s sights is a central midfielder, amid doubts over Enzo Fernandez’s future and the exit of Andrey Santos for Manchester United. According to Chelsea-focused journalist Simon Phillips, Guimaraes is a name that has been discussed at Stamford Bridge.
The Brazil international has told Newcastle he wants to explore an exit this summer, amid an approach from ******* nal.
The Gunners saw a £55m verbal offer turned down earlier in the window. Newcastle do not want to sell the club captain after losing Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon, though could consider offers upwards of £80m.

#arsenal #earlier #amid #bruno

Inter defender Yan-Aurel Bisseck is ‘not thinking’ about a return to the Bundesliga, but is ‘curious’ to see Jurgen Klopp in charge of the Germany national team: ‘It gives me a lot of hope.’
Bisseck became a regular Inter starter in 2025-26, contributing to the Nerazzurri’s Scudetto and Coppa Italia victories.
The German defender has recently been linked with a move to Bayern Munich, but no negotiations have yet begun between the German and Italian ****** le holders.
“It’s not something I’m thinking about currently,” Bisseck told Sky Sport DE when asked about a potential return to the Bundesliga.
SASSUOLO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Yann Bisseck of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and FC Internazionale at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on February 08, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

#italy #defender

Newcastle United have agreed a deal worth up to £34m for Monaco midfielder Aladji Bamba.
The 20-year-old Frenchman, who played his first senior game in August 2025, is due on Tyneside on Thursday to have a medical and sign a long-term contract.
Newcastle sold Sandro Tonali to Tottenham last month and have been in the market for a second young midfielder after signing 18-year-old Sean Steur from Ajax.
Another target, Freiburg's Johan Manzambi, opted to join Aston Villa last week.
Among Ligue 1 midfielders who played at least 500 minutes last season, Bamba ranked in the top five for duels won (9.1 per game on average), tackles (3.6), successful take-ons (1.6) and aerial duels won (1.9).

#bamba #year #duels #united

Newcastle United have reportedly agreed a fee to sign French youth international midfielder Aladji Bamba.
The 20-year-old is a product of the AS Monaco youth system and broke into the first team last season, making 25 appearances in total in all competitions and providing two **** ists.
Those handful of appearances were enough for the Magpies to quickly pounce and the Premier League side have reportedly agreed a £35 million fee to sign Bamba according to Sky Sports News.
Eddie Howe's side are certainly in need of new midfielders this summer with Sandro Tonali leaving the club for Tottenham Hotspur while **** nal are said to be keen on signing Bruno Guimarães.

#Youth #newcastle

The 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an end on Sunday with Spain reclaiming the ***** le. They won a gritty matchup against Argentina with a 1-0 victory after extra time, and the physicality in the contest led to the early departure of Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez.
The “Butcher” picked up the injury playing his game, an aggressive and fearless approach to defending that sees him cover a lot of ground and make a lot of crunching tackles. His efforts have made him a fan favorite at Old Trafford as one of the few transfer hits from the Erik ten Hag era. His tenure at Old Trafford has not come without ***** ps and bruises, though, and his absences with ***** ps and bruises have kept him from playing his best for extended stretches.
With his injury, even expected to be minor, there is some concern over Manchester United’s depth at the position. Matthijs De Ligt in particular was one fans were worried about after a lengthy absence and operation to fix a back injury. He is expected back in October, but has already had some injury problems hinder his career to this point. He and Martinez both missed a lot of time last season due to injury.
The notable absences are papered over somewhat by the enduring presence of Harry Maguire, who somehow rediscovered the confidence and ability that made him one of the club’s most expensive signings in 2019. He too has had his share of knocks and absences, though, and is turning 34 next March.
The presence of Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven also papered over them. In fact, the immediate answer to the center back depth questions is this: That’s what Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven are there for. That isn’t an answer that inspires a ton of confidence given the club experienced the reality of multiple injuries shattering the defensive unit in the last two seasons. But if the club is betting on a return to full health for De Ligt and a swift return for Martinez, there isn’t a pressing need for a center back.

#back

Tottenham Hotspur began their preseason campaign with a win in a behind-closed-doors friendly against League One side MK Dons at the Tottenham Hotspur training ground.
With several players missing due to the recently completed World Cup, a mix of youth and experience was on display as Roberto De Zerbi heavily rotated his side each half. New signings Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali, and Martin Dubravka made their debuts, and it was the former who was the difference, with his stunning strike the lone goal in a scrappy encounter.
Here's my top ten talking points from Spurs' first outing under Thomas Frank.
Spurs' first friendly was as notable for who was missing as much as who was named. With the World Cup only recently wrapping up in the Americas, it was obviously much too soon to see the likes of Djed Spence, Pedro Porro, Marcos Senesi, or Cristian Romero; but other players involved in the World Cup also weren't involved. Jan Paul van Hecke, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, Pape Sarr, and Andy Robertson were all missing due to enforced leave following their international duties.
This meant limited learnings as to how the squad will shape up when the season kicked off, and also raises questions as to who will be available for the tour to Australia and New Zealand. An additional point of concern was the absence of James Maddison, who had no such international commitments and who made his return from an ACL injury towards the end of last season. The fact he did not see the pitch is concerning given his injury history. It's a similar situation as well for promising young defender Jun'ai Byfield, also missing the end of the season with injury and not sighted today.

#World #friendly

Real Madrid also got a share of the glory as Spain won the FIFA World Cup 2026, as one of their players, Marc Cucurella, was also present in the winning side. The Merengue club had signed the fullback just before the start of the top international competition, and he remained a key part of Luis de la Fuente's team throughout the tournament.
Other established Los Blancos stars also had a good World Cup, as they shone for their respective national teams. This is especially true for Kylian Mbappe, who remained the leader of France's attack, and won the Golden Boot with his 10 goals in the competition. Similarly, Jude Bellingham also starred for England, scoring 7 goals for the Three Lions.
As Diario AS has reported, all of these three players have been named in the FIFA World Cup Best XI, a starting lineup of the best players in the competition selected by fans' votes. The full list of players selected is as follows:
Goalkeeper: Vozinha (Cape Verde)
Defenders: Porro (Spain), Lisandro (Argentina), Upamecano (France), Cucurella (Spain)

#spain #cucurella