Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has given Jesus Vallejo the go-ahead to stay at Granada for the 2020-21 season.
The 23-year-old centre-back has struggled to establish himself at the Santiago Bernabeu, making just 12 appearances in LaLiga for Madrid since signing from Real Zaragoza in July 2015.
Loans to Zaragoza, Eintracht Frankfurt, Wolves and, since January, Granada have given the former Spain Under-21 defender additional first-team opportunities.
He made 11 appearances in the Spanish top flight for Granada after agreeing to a short-term stay in January, and now a full season awaits him with Diego Martinez s team.
Granada finished an impressive seventh in 2019-20 following promotion from the Segunda Division in 2018-19.
Zidane has ample option…
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The Bundesliga s only remaining teams with perfect records, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, are set to face off at the Allianz Arena on Friday.
Both teams have won all three of their opening games in the German top flight, with Leverkusen currently leading the table due to their slightly better goal difference.
Bayern Munich
After a thrilling finish to the 2022/23 season where Bayern snatched the title from Borussia Dortmund on the final day, they entered the new campaign under the management of Thomas Tuchel with the goal of winning their 12th consecutive Bundesliga title.
Their season began with a 4-0 victory over Werder Bremen, with Leroy Sane, Harry Kane, and Mathys Tel all finding the net. This was followed by …
The Netherlands booked their place in the Nations League Finals as Virgil van Dijk s second-half header sealed a 1-0 win over Belgium on Sunday.
Victory over Poland on Thursday meant the Oranje only needed to avoid a heavy defeat to their neighbours at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam to seal top spot in Group A4.
Belgium never looked like they had the firepower to pull off such a result, with Liverpool defender Van Dijk securing three points for the hosts by scoring in the 73rd minute.
The result meant the Netherlands topped their group with 16 points, with Roberto Martinez s Red Devils six points behind in second.
4 Four of Virgil van Dijk’s six goals for the Netherlands were headers from corners, his goal against Belgium was his first one for…
Juventus winger Angel Di Maria wants to finish his playing career where it started, back in Argentina with Rosario Central.
Di Maria, 34, joined Rosario as a four-year-old, spending the next 15 years with the club before a starring performance in the Under-20 World Cup saw Benfica come knocking.
His move to Benfica was the beginning of a remarkable European career, where he proceeded to play for Real Madrid, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain before landing in Italy with Juventus.
Despite all his success in Europe, Di Maria spoke about his desire to return to his roots in an interview with former player Ezequiel Lavezzi, who represented Argentina on the international stage 51 times between 2007 and 2016.
I d like to go back to Rosario, he said. I …
According to Fabrizio Romano, West Ham are leading the race to sign Carlos Soler from Paris Saint-Germain. The midfielder is apparently keen on joining the Hammers, despite interest from several other clubs, and Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui wants him in his ranks.
The two clubs are currently locked in negotiations over the terms of a potential transfer of the 27-year-old, who has 14 caps for Spain to his name so far. However, West Ham also need to complete several outgoing deals in order to get it done, while complying with the Premier League s financial regulations.
Since joining PSG from Valencia two years ago, Soler has made a total of 63 appearances for the Ligue 1 champions in all competitions, scoring eight goals, as well as providing the same number of assists, f…
Brazil forward Vinicius Junior has agreed a new contract extension with Real Madrid until the summer of 2027.
Vinicius’ previous contract was set to expire in 2024, and it has been reported an updated deal – said to include a 1billion euro (£873,500m) release clause – had been agreed for some time before being made public.
In a video clip on Real’s social media, Vinicius said: “Hello Madrid fans, I am very happy to renew my contract. It is a dream for me.
De: Para:
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid)
“I hope I can continue here for many years, scoring many goals and winning many titles. Thank you very much for the love. Hala Madrid!”
A short statement on the club’s official website read: “Real Madrid and Vini Jr hav…
Barcelona are in contact with Lionel Messi and would love the Argentina star to make a dream return to Camp Nou, according to the club s vice president Rafael Yuste.
Messi is in the final few months of his two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain, having joined the Ligue 1 giants when a financial crisis forced him to leave Barca in 2021.
The World Cup winner has scored 18 goals and added 17 assists this season, but with PSG falling short in the Champions League, doubts have arisen concerning his future in the French capital.
While David Beckham-owned Inter Miami are keen to take Messi to MLS, Barcelona have often been linked with a move for their all-time leading goalscorer, and Yuste refused to rule out a reunion on Friday.
Of course we are in contact wi…
Champions League – Ajax 2-1 Lyon, September 2002
Ibrahimovic was introduced to European football way back in 2002, but he was only in the team on the day due to an injury to Rafael van der Vaart and Mido s suspension, which was a consequence of throwing a pair of scissors at the Swede during a row. Ibrahimovic stepped up in their absence, however, scoring a brilliant opener from a tight angle after squeezing between a couple of defenders, before then getting the winner with a simple finish in the Champions League group-stage clash.
VIDEO | Top 10: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax)
Serie A – Brescia 0-3 Juventus, September 2004
Having developed into a real talent at Ajax, Juventus splashed a reported €16million on Ibrahimovic at…
Brighton moved top of the Premier League after holding 10-man Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
Kai Havertz s first-half strike was cancelled out by Joao Pedro, while the hosts played most of the second half with a player less following Declan Rice s red card for two bookable offences.
The Gunners broke the deadlock seven minutes before half-time when Bukayo Saka outmuscled Lewis Dunk before teeing up Havertz, who lifted the ball into the empty net over the outrushing Bart Verbruggen.
However, Mikel Arteta s side were reduced to 10 men within four minutes of the restart, with Rice shown a second yellow card after he was deemed to have prevented the taking of a Brighton free-kick.
The Seagulls were level just nine minutes later when David Raya…
What the papers say
Dominic Solanke has emerged as a potential solution to Tottenham’s hunt for a striker. The Sun reports Spurs are watching the Bournemouth forward, 26, ahead of a summer signing.
Tottenham are also being linked with Belgium midfielder Arther Vermeeren, 18. According to The Sun, Spurs are willing to pay Royal Antwerp £25million in January with an agreement to loan him back for the rest of the season.
Jesse Lingard’s search for a new club has reached Lille, according to the Daily Mirror. But the 31-year-old former Manchester United midfielder, a free agent, could be restricted by a limit on French clubs signing players from outside the EU.
Manchester United are being linked with a move for Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee, reports the Metro via…