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La Liga president Javier Tebas has confirmed that Real Madrid's request to postpone their opener against Osasuna on August 19 has been turned down.

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• Madrid's La Liga opener won't be delayed, Tebas confirms
• Compared them to Chelsea and PSG
• Madrid had handed request to postpone the game for more rest

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Real Madrid and Alonso have been handed a huge setback by La Liga president Tebas, who has confirmed that the club's request to delay their opening league fixture against Osasuna on August 19 has been officially declined. Madrid were hoping for some leeway after reaching the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, but it seems their requests will not be heard this time.

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  reported earlier this week that Tebas denied a deal to delay La Liga's 2025–26 start, despite Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) and clubs claiming agreement. According to , Madrid and Atletico, along with captains Dani Carvajal and Koke, agreed with La Liga, Spanish football federation (RFEF), and AFE in May to postpone their 2025–26 openers if they reached the Club World Cup quarter-finals, citing player welfare. Madrid were alive in the competition until July 9, when they lost to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final, while Los Colchoneros were knocked out at the group stage.

• WHAT JAVIER TEBAS SAID

  “I believe that they will have 20 days to rest instead of 21 and no other leagues like the Premier League for Chelsea or the French Ligue 1 for PSG are changing the games,” Tebas said. "So I don’t believe that we should change the calendar for that reason, especially thinking that it’s a matter of one day.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

  It appears that Madrid's La Liga opener will proceed as planned, to be played on August 19 against Osasuna. Alonso has his work cut out after a humiliating 4-0 defeat against PSG in the Club World Cup semi-final. It has been reported that the manager is set to hold talks with forwards Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe ahead of next season, with other reports from Spain suggesting that the Real Madrid board will fully back Alonso's sporting decisions, should he find that some of the big names are not buying into his ideas.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr side have reportedly made an offer for Manchester United's Brazilian winger Antony.

• Winger training away from United team-mates
• Conflicting reports over United's price tag
• Al-Nassr spending big after Felix agreement

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  reports the Saudi club have made an undisclosed offer to the Red Devils. Antony, along with Jadon Sancho, Tyrell Malacia and Alejandro Garnacho, is one of four United first-team players currently training separately from the rest of the squad; he was not included in the club's pre-season tour of the US. While the Red Devils are clearly intending to sell the player, a report last week suggested they would ask for €50m (€60m/$67m) to part company with the winger. Earlier in the summer, it had been suggested the club would accept £20-30m (€22m-€34m/$27-40m) for the wide man.

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  Al-Nassr are willing to splash the cash, as they chase an SPL title after last season's disappointing third-place finish. Earlier today, they agreed to a €30m (£26m/$35m) deal for Chelsea's Joao Felix. That deal could reach €50m (£44.5m/$67m) with add-ons.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Antony enjoyed a stellar loan spell at Real Betis in the second half of the 2024/25 season. The Brazilian scored nine goals in 26 appearances for the Spanish side, re-establishing himself as a sought after prospect after three disappointing seasons at Old Trafford.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ANTONY?

  The 23-year-old will leave Manchester this summer, but it remains to be seen if he fancies a move to Saudi. Antony had fancied a return to southern Spain, but Betis were unable to finance a deal.

Under immense financial pressure from legal battles, John Textor faces a British court over an €82 million (£71m/$93m) debt from his Lyon investment.

• Textor faces legal action from investment fund Iconic
• American attempts to "freeze" €23m worth of shares in Botafogo
• Pressure mounts after stepping back on his role at Lyon

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Textor's complex financial empire is under scrutiny on multiple fronts. In Brazil, he has asked a Rio court to "freeze" shares in Botafogo worth €23m (£20m/$26m) that are held by his main creditor, Ares. At the same time, a dispute with another investment fund, Iconic, has escalated to a British court. According to , Iconic is seeking to recover approximately €82m (£71m/$93m) they invested in the purchase of Lyon, with the matter now in the hands of the UK legal system after a US court rejected Textor’s appeal.

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  Textor’s football ventures have unravelled amid financial scrutiny and legal skirmishes on two continents. After Lyon’s provisional relegation to Ligue 2 – triggered by the DNCG’s findings of missing documents and suspected funds diverted to bolster Botafogo – Textor stepped down from his role at the French club and sold his Crystal Palace stake, which was reportedly bought using the money from Ares and Iconic. Now, with new heads at the helm of Lyon, his alleged 'accounting tricks' are being uncovered and Textor is actively having to fight back against his creditors, seeking to protect his control over Botafogo even as the UK courts prepare to rule on the massive €82m debt to Iconic, which stems from a failed IPO intended to merge Eagle Football with a SPAC.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The American investors's legal action in Brazil against Ares – his primary creditor – is a defensive measure aimed at protecting his control of Botafogo, a club that recently made an unprecedented €22m (£19m/$25m) signing of Danilo from Nottingham Forest. The size of this transaction has raised questions about the club's finances, especially since it remains the only club in the league not to have presented its accounts.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TEXTOR?

  The ex-Lyon owner's priority is to fend off his creditors and consolidate his control over Botafogo. The legal decisions from the British and Brazilian courts will have a profound impact on his ability to do so. A ruling against him in the UK could force him to pay a massive debt, while his success or failure in freezing Ares's shares in Brazil could determine if he can retain management of Botafogo.

Napoli may be about to exact a "small revenge" on Nottingham Forest after missing out on forward Dan Ndoye.

• Nottingham Forest eye €20m signing
• Beat Napoli to one transfer
• Could lose out in another

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to journalist Ciro Venerato on RAI, via Napoli Magazine, Forest, Wolves, and Napoli have been vying to sign Sevilla star Juanlu Sanchez. Although Forest have reportedly offered €20m (£17.3m) for the 21-year-old, Venerato claims that the player either wants to join Conte's team or stay in Spain. This comes just over a week after Napoli target Dan Ndoye joined Nuno Espirito Santo's side in a deal worth up to £34m ($46m). 

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  'A SMALL REVENGE'

  Venerato said on the matter: "Sevilla received an excellent offer from Nottingham Forest (who beat out Wolverhampton) of close to €20 million. But they recently had to deal with the player’s extremely tough position. Juanlu Sanchez was peremptory. Either Sevilla sells him to Napoli, or he stays in Spain! There’s no middle ground. Now that Napoli have decided to make the move, the player is fully committed. Nottingham are out. A small revenge for the Neapolitans, after the English side prevailed over the Campanian side for the Bolognese player Ndoye."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite talk of a "small revenge", Fabrizio Romano reports that Sevilla have rejected Napoli's €17m (£14.7m) offer for Juanlu, so a switch to the Serie A champions is far from certain. He adds that the Spanish team wants €20m plus a sell-on clause – something Wolves have 'already offered'.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The extremely versatile Juanlu – who can play at right-back, as a central midfielder, or as a winger – is likely to be the subject of more transfer bids from these teams ahead of the summer window shutting in just over three weeks.

RB Leipzig have approached Liverpool to discuss Harvey Elliott after identifying him as a potential replacement for Xavi Simons. The Netherlands international is set to leave the German club this summer, with Chelsea being his likely destination.

• Chelsea receive Simons boost
• Leipzig identify replacement
• Approach Liverpool over Elliott 

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , Leipzig have contacted Liverpool to enquire about the availability of Elliott this summer. While the talks are not currently in an advanced stage, discussions between the two teams are ongoing. 

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  Elliott, who struggled for game time at Anfield under Arne Slot in the 2024-25 campaign, wants to revive his career elsewhere, although Liverpool will only consider selling him if they receive an offer of £40 million ($66m) plus a buy-back option, or above £50m without one. Leipzig see the 22-year-old as a direct replacement for Simons, who is expected to leave the club before the summer transfer window closes.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  It is widely known that Simons wishes to move on this summer. He is the subject of strong interest from Chelsea, who are pursuing an agreement with Leipzig.

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  WHAT NEXT

  Liverpool have wrapped up their pre-season preparations and will take on Crystal Palace in the Community Shield on Sunday, while Chelsea will play two friendlies before kicking off the Premier League campaign at home to the Eagles. Leipzig, meanwhile, will hope to have a clearer picture of their squad by the time they face Sandhausen in the German Cup on August 16.

Questions are being asked of whether Tom Brady should have been speaking to Wayne Rooney at Birmingham after his “work ethic” documentary dig.

• Super Bowl winner sits on the Blues' board
• Hands on when visiting the UK
• Winning mentality but no English football experience

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The NFL legend has been a minority stakeholder at St Andrew’s since the summer of 2023. His first season on the Blues’ board ended in relegation out of the Championship being suffered, with the decision to appoint Manchester United legend Rooney as manager during that campaign proving to be disastrous.

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  Footage from that forgettable tenure features on the new Amazon Prime Video documentary ‘Built in Birmingham: Brady & the Blues’. Seven-time Super Bowel winner Brady is seen casting doubt over Rooney’s ability to bring the best out of an underperforming squad.

• WHAT GOODMAN SAID

  Brady is eager to be hands on when not in the United States, but ex-EFL player turned pundit Don Goodman has told of his role in English football: “What I would say is, Tom Brady brings a top-of-the-range winning mentality of what it takes as a professional sports person to be the best version and the most elite version of yourself. That's what he brings.

  “He doesn't bring any tactical nous or tactical problem-solving ability; that job belongs to Chris Davis, obviously. But there is no doubt he can inspire players. I read an interview with Ethan Laird, and he speaks a lot about Tom Brady and how he's in awe of him.

  “When you've had a career like the one Tom Brady has had, maybe that's why he felt comfortable talking about Wayne Rooney in the way that he did. But can you compare American football and soccer? I'm not so sure. For example, the distances covered by a player in both sports are so diverse, which represents a different physical and mental challenge.

  “But what you can't take away from Tom Brady is that winning mentality and that knowledge of what kind of dedication is required to become a success and reach the very maximum of your potential, I would say.

  “I was at Birmingham vs Wrexham last season when Rob McElhenney, Tom Brady and even David Beckham were in attendance (Ryan Reynolds couldn’t make it!). Nobody really cared there was a football match going on! I just think the eyes that they will bring to the Championship this season can only be a positive, like it was in League One last season.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Birmingham and Wrexham stepped out of League One in 2024-25 – with the Blues taking the third tier title in record-breaking style – and both have spent bid in the summer transfer window as they take aim at the Premier League.

  They are being tipped to figure among the Championship frontrunners, but Goodman added on them becoming smaller fish in a much bigger pond: “I think you've seen from both Birmingham City and Wrexham's recruitment that they have recognised how challenging and different the Championship will prove to be compared to League One.

  “And so, I don't think that the majority of clubs facing Birmingham and Wrexham will view it as a 'cup final', particularly the ones that are going for promotion. I don't think those sorts of teams are going to be viewing those games as 'cup finals.'  I think much of it depends on how the season progresses and on how the clubs are doing, respectively. But there's no doubt about it, the glitz and the glamour that the two clubs bring off the pitch is going to be brilliant exposure for the Championship.

  “Based on how superior Birmingham were last season and how they've more than matched Wrexham's recruitment, of the two teams, you would have to say Birmingham would probably be the ones who have a better chance of going up. I've gone from giving them no chance to saying maybe they have got a chance, and that's the danger of speculating before the transfer window shuts.”

Isaac Price scored twice as West Brom spoiled the party in Wrexham's first league match at home following their historic return to the Championship.

• Wrexham lose on historic home bow
• Co-chairmen Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney watch on
• Price scores lovely double for West Brom

• TELL ME MORE

  Price, 21, scored in both halves as the Baggies ran out 3-2 winners to consign the Red Dragons to back-to-back league defeats following last season's rise from League One – their third promotion in a row.

  It was a carnival atmosphere inside the Racecourse Ground but Wrexham could not use that to their advantage as Price put West Brom in front after 20 minutes. The Everton academy graduate peeled away from the hosts' defence superbly to latch onto Tom Fellows' cross before firing home from close range.

  And things soon went from bad to worse for Phil Parkinson's side when Josh Windass, a summer signing following his departure from beleaguered Sheffield Wednesday, had to be replaced with a suspected hamstring injury as the visitors grew in confidence.

  However after Kieffer Moore was allowed to wander freely into the right-hand channel, the 6ft 5in striker's cross eventually found its way through to Lewis O'Brien, who slotted home Wrexham's first league goal of the season on home soil.

  Having weathered the storm, Wrexham started the second half the better of the two teams and almost took the lead when club-record signing Nathan Broadhead fired just wide following another dangerous cross from Moore.

  But West Brom started to grow into the game following the introduction of Jed Wallace, and the winger soon fired Ryan Mason's men back in front after getting on the end of a lovely pass from fellow substitute Michael Johnston.

  And West Brom soon made it 3-1 just seven minutes later when Price headed home from Johnston's cross, leading to the travelling fans to start chanting 'Reynolds, what's the score?' in the direction of the watching Wrexham co-chairman and Hollywood star, Ryan.

  Sam Smith set up a nervy finish when he headed past West Brom goalkeeper Josh Griffiths in the fifth minute of stoppage time, but it was too little too late in the end for Wrexham.

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  THE MVP

  Price continued his excellent start to the season by making the all important difference in either half. The midfielder, who scored the only goal in West Brom's opening day victory over Blackburn Rovers, was ice cold in front of goal and will be one to watch for the remainder of the Championship season.

• THE BIG LOSER

  It was an unfortunate afternoon for Windass after the Wrexham attacker had to be substituted midway through the first half with a suspected hamstring injury. The 31-year-old scored his side's first Championship goal in 43 years in the narrow 2-1 defeat against Southampton on the opening day of the season, but is now set for a spell on the sidelines.

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  WHAT COMES NEXT?

  Next up for Wrexham is another home league fixture against Sheffield Wednesday on August 23. Meanwhile, West Brom host Portsmouth at The Hawthorns on the same day.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher ripped into his old club after their scarcely-deserved victory over Newcastle on Monday night.

• Liverpool won at St James' Park
• Beat 10-player Newcastle despite poor display
• Carragher sympathises with Magpies

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Liverpool were second-best for much of their clash with Newcastle on Monday despite having a player advantage following Anthony Gordon's red card. Their 2-0 lead evaporated after Bruno Guimaraes and William Osula struck, but 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha's 100th-minute effort ensured the Reds left St James' Park with all three points.

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  The reigning Premier League champions were strangely poor after Gordon was dismissed, failing to utilise their advantage as they let the Magpies back into the contest and nearly threw away the victory. Speaking after the game, Carragher made no excuses for his former side and claimed they would have lost if Newcastle had not had a player dismissed for a rogue challenge.

• WHAT CARRAGHER SAID

  Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: "I think what we've seen tonight is possibly one of the worst performances from a winning team and one of the best performances from a losing team.

  "Liverpool won't care right now, of course, they'll be absolutely ecstatic, but Eddie Howe's men tonight were absolutely outstanding. "It did (seem like it was over at 2-0), but that crowd, that intensity they played with, I actually fear what the score might have been if it had been 11 vs 11. I think Newcastle would've won the game – they were far better than Liverpool in every aspect."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Liverpool were also well below their 2024-25 standards during the first half but managed to take the lead thanks to Ryan Gravenberch's effort from distance. Gordon was then dismissed in first-half stoppage time before Hugo Ekitike doubled the lead seconds into the second period. 

Christopher Nkunku has officially joined AC Milan from Chelsea for a permanent fee of €42 million (£36.2m/$49m). The French forward has signed a five-year contract, keeping him at the club until 2030. This deal comes after a challenging and injury-ridden stint in West London, where Nkunku struggled to establish himself as a regular under Enzo Maresca.

• Nkunku jumps ship from Chelsea to Milan
• Serie A giants paid €42m for the forward
• Milan debut could come after the international break

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After making a high-profile £52m ($70m) move from RB Leipzig in 2023, the 25-year-old faced a series of setbacks, including a serious knee injury in pre-season, which restricted him to just 11 Premier League appearances in his first season. Despite being fit again, Nkunku struggled to earn a regular spot in the starting XI, with many of his appearances coming in cup competitions. The writing was on the wall when he was excluded from the squad for the opening two games of this season, signalling that he was no longer in the manager's plans.

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  The sale of Nkunku also clears up space for Chelsea to pursue more transfer targets, including the potential signing of Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United. Reports have surfaced that Chelsea are closing in on a £40m ($54m) deal for the Argentine forward.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  During his time at Chelsea, Nkunku made 62 appearances, registering 18 goals and 5 assists across all competitions. Last season, he played in 43 matches, scoring 14 goals, and was involved in six games during the club’s Club World Cup campaign.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NKUNKU?

  Milan’s first win of the new Serie A campaign came this past Friday against Lecce, and Nkunku could make his debut for the Italian giants after the international break. They are scheduled to host Bologna on September 14, and it’s expected that Nkunku will be integrated into the squad for that fixture.

Emi Martinez spent transfer deadline day waiting on a call from Manchester United that never came, with the Red Devils signing Senne Lammens instead.

• World Cup winner wanted Old Trafford switch
• Asked international team-mate for help 
• No deal done as Red Devils snapped up Belgian

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The acquisition of a potential new No.1 was always a top priority at Old Trafford throughout the summer window. Many considered World Cup winner Martinez to be the ideal candidate to take over from error-prone Andre Onana between the sticks at the so-called ‘Theatre of Dreams’.

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  Argentina international Martinez was open to said move, having seemingly bid farewell to Aston Villa fans at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, but the enigmatic 32-year-old was left hanging as the deadline passed with no deal done.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  According to , Martinez “called on his Argentina team-mate, United defender Lisandro Martinez, to try to advocate for him with people at United” as the clock ticked down. He also “spoke to Ruben Amorim in June and July about a prospective move”, with United’s Portuguese coach of the opinion that the South American’s “character and experience would be beneficial for his side”.

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  TELL ME MORE

  Only one call was made, regarding a loan deal that was never going to be acceptable to Villa. From there, Martinez’s salary became a problem – with the ex-Arsenal shot-stopper working on terms in the West Midlands until 2029 that see him earn more than Onana. A fee of over £30 million ($41m) also needed to be factored into the equation.