Chelsea has made its first, and probably only, move while serving a two-window transfer ban (this summer and next January) by permanently signing the previously on-loan Mateo Kovačić from Real Madrid for a fee that could approach nearly $57 million.
The 25-year-old just completed his first season with the Blues, and with plenty of unforeseen circumstances ahead, Kovačić had to be brought back.
Manchester United looks to be wrapping up it’s second signing of the summer transfer window. After a poor season with an obvious lack of quality in an aging squad, Ole Gunnar Solskjær has identified younger targets with potential for long-term improvement. Recently signing 21-year-old Daniel James from Swansea City, United turned its attention to its defensive targets. While it seems pretty clear that Matthijs de Ligt will not be moving to Old Trafford any time soon, Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka looks primed and ready to sign a contract with the northern giants.
Friday. On Friday, you don’t work. On Friday, you watch perhaps the most anticipated match in the history of the Women’s World Cup. The USA vs France World Cup 2019 predictions, previews and general hype train is building to a crescendo, like a Marta message to the children.
It was recently announced that Rafa Benitez will be leaving Newcastle when his contract expires on June 31.
This is a huge loss for the Magpies, unquestionably. With Mike Ashley still at the helm of the former Premier League title challengers, Benitez was rarely supported in the transfer window, and had to do his best with the players that he had.
Japan, as evidenced by the first goal it scored against the Netherlands on Tuesday, is one of the most technically gifted footballing nations on the planet. The Nadeshiko combine wonderfully and, at times, appear to harmoniously coexist on the same wavelength.
But that wasn’t the case during Tuesday’s warmup before a Round-of-16 encounter with the Netherlands. This is the rondo from hell.
According to SPORT, a Spanish daily based in Barcelona, Neymar has agreed on personal terms to return to the Camp Nou on a five-year deal that includes a massive pay cut to his current salary. The 27-year-old currently earns $41 million per year with PSG, but he’s willing to rejoin Barça for around $27 million.
The USWNT overcame a spirited, physical and tactically disciplined Spain to advance to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup and setup an enthralling match with France, but the manner of the victory was hardly assuring.
The U.S. required two penalties from captain Megan Rapinoe — one in the seventh minute and the next in the 76th — to overcome a defensive error that allowed Jennifer Hermoso to score the first goal against the USWNT of this tournament.
France survived an almighty scare from Brazil to win 2-1 after extra time and advance to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup, where they’ll play the winner of tomorrow’s match between the USWNT and Spain. The goalscoring hero was Amandine Henry, who got on the end of a set piece in the 106th minute to send France through.
The story of the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship so far has been the play of Romania, which is participating at the tournament for the first time since 1998. After finishing above Portugal in qualifying, there was a sense that this could be the finest Romanian generation in 20 years, but no one could’ve predicted the start they’d make at this U-21 Championship.
Romania began play last Tuesday with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Croatia, including goals from the highly touted Ianis Hagi and Tudor Băluță.
Real Madrid legend Raúl moved another rung up the coaching ladder today, as he was announced as the new manager for Real Madrid’s second division side Real Madrid Castilla.
BREAKING: Real Madrid legend Raul will coach the club’s Castilla side through 2019/20 pic.twitter.com/KHQipZgHFd
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 20, 2019