Gareth Bale did not find himself on the team sheet for Real Madrid’s friendly against Tottenham in Munich on Tuesday. Instead, he was spotted on the green, playing golf at the Ciudad Grupo Santander, a private course on the outskirts of Madrid.
As countless think pieces have told us over the last couple years, Major League Soccer is shifting away from its “retirement league” stigma and embracing young, high potential talent with sell-on value. That’s all smart and good, but, in my opinion, not nearly as fun as the retirement league. Maybe it’s an unpopular opinion, but I’m still here for Zlatan Ibrahimović, Wayne Rooney and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Ah, Gareth Bale: the Welsh Messi, the Cannon, and, as his Real Madrid teammates call him, the Golfer.
Bale is prodigiously talented with pace, dribbling ability, range of passing and a rocket of a left foot. It seems like forever ago when the Welshman transferred from Tottenham to Real Madrid for a then-record fee of $113 million, but now it seems that his time at the Bernabeu is coming to an end.
The greatest champions league final goal ever.
Despite having not scored more than 10 league goals in a season since 2014-15 (his first with Real Madrid), Colombian attacker James Rodriguez remains one of the game’s most recognizable and beloved footballers. The 28-year-old’s playmaking ability is world class (he dropped 13 assists during his first season on loan at Bayern Munich), and although he’s been deemed surplus to requirements by Zinedine Zidane, the likes of Atlético and Napoli are desperate to sign the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner.
Arsenal fans were left stunned today when it was announced that captain Laurent Koscielny had refused to attend the club's preseason tour of the United States.
After a late season collapse that included that historic beatdown from Liverpool in the Champions League semis and defeat to Valencia in the Copa del Rey final, FC Barcelona has dusted itself off and is now looking forward to its 120th season in existence with relish.
Last Friday, a substantial crowd at the Camp Nou welcomed new signing Frenkie de Jong from Ajax. The 22-year-old cost $84 million, and he’ll instantly slot into Barça’s midfield three alongside Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic.
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.
According to recent reports from Spanish daily MARCA, Atlético Madrid is planning on making a massive $135 million bid for Benfica wonderkid João Félix. The 19-year-old attacker tore up the Primeira Liga last season, scoring 15 goals while adding seven assists in 26 games.
The fee would double Atlético’s previous transfer record, set when purchasing French winger Thomas Lemar from Monaco last summer for $67 million.
It's been a weird year for Chelsea fans. After finishing third in the English Premier League and winning the Europa League, manager Maurizio Sarri has left the club to return to Italy. He will be coaching Juventus.
As that news is settling down, one rumor won't go away: Blues legend Frank Lampard is set to take over at Chelsea.
Summer in the soccer world is a time of hope, drama, disappointment, loss and new beginnings. In a footballer’s life, it could be a time of complete change and new opportunities; new challenges to take on. This summer is proving no different.
There is hope that teams can add players that will make them stronger and more competitive — take Real Madrid buying Eden Hazard and various others after a disappointing 2018-19 season. There is drama circulating too, with Gareth Bale being a lighting rod of speculation at Real as well.