Real Madrid had a real stinker of a 2018-19 season. It was the club’s worst in about 20 years, finishing 19 points back of Barcelona in LaLiga and failing to secure a trophy of any kind aside from the Club World Cup in December.
Los Blancos are already look ahead to next season, having secured the services of Eden Hazard following the rehire of Zinedine Zidane earlier this year.
According to reports from ESPN and the BBC, Real Madrid and Chelsea have finally agreed to a transfer fee to send Eden Hazard from Stamford Bridge to the Santiago Bernabéu. The Eden Hazard transfer fee is being priced at $113 million, but that sum could rise to as high as $165 million should the 28-year-old Belgian attacker reach “realistic bonuses” along with additional payments that Real will make.
After a minor injury that spiraled into 10 operations, an infection that ate away at his tendon and threatened foot amputation, a skin graft that resulted in part of his left arm tattoo moving to his right foot and ultimately, a spell of 636 days without football, Santi Cazorla made a remarkable comeback with Villarreal last season, appearing in 46 matches, scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists.
Real Madrid’s youth movement continued apace Tuesday with news that 21-year-old Serbian striker Luka Jović had completed his transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt on a six-year deal worth $67.5 million.
For the first time in the club’s 119-year history, FC Barcelona is adopting a checkerboard print on the home kit. Is it in homage to Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitić and the famous jerseys of his national team? No.
Jose Antonio Reyes, a fan favorite wherever he went, died in a car crash on Saturday morning at the age of 35.
The crash occurred in Reyes’ hometown of Utrera outside Seville, Marca reported.
We couldn't be confirming worse news. Beloved Sevilla star José Antonio Reyes has died in a traffic collision. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/qeGl2nsi3c
The latest football clubs’ valuation study has been released by KPMG, revealing the 32 richest soccer teams in Europe as of January 1, 2019. There’s been a shakeup at the top, where Real Madrid has climbed above Manchester United as the world’s most valuable club.
With two matches remaining in Spain’s Segunda División, Albacete has assured itself of at least a spot in the LaLiga promotion playoffs following Saturday’s 2-0 away victory over Sporting Gijón.
The first goal was scored by Eugeni from the penalty spot, and the second arrived in the 58th from 30-year-old Paraguayan attacker Javier Acuña. Acuña’s effort was from well inside his own half, but the pace and accuracy on the strike beat Sporting keeper Dani Martín, a 20-year-old who’s represented Spain at the youth levels.
Real Madrid completed its worst season in nearly 20 years with a 2-0 defeat to Real Betis on Sunday at the Bernabeu. Los Blancos’ return of 68 points was its worst since the 2001-02 season and they finished farther behind Barcelona than any time in the LaLiga era.
The season of futility, a massive failure to overcome the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo, resulted in a third-place finish, 19 points shy of Barcelona and eight points back of crosstown rival Atletico Madrid. The only redeeming quality of the season was ensuring Champions League play for next season.