Man City midfielder Bernardo Silva responds to Barcelona and Saudi Arabia transfer interest
Bernardo Silva has played down the prospect of a move to the Saudi Pro League but refused to be drawn on the prospect of a transfer to Barcelona.
Aymeric Laporte Sport News
Leverkusen’s Grimaldo among new faces in Spain squad
LAS ROZAS DE MADRID, Spain: Bayer Leverkusen full-back Alejandro Grimaldo has been rewarded for his outstanding start to the season with a call-up to the Spain squad for their final Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Cyprus and Georgia this month. The 28-year-old Grimaldo, signed from Benfica in the close season, has been a key member of the Leverkusen side that has surged to the top of the German Bundesliga under former Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso. Coach Luis de la Fuente has also handed a first call-up to Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro, who replaces Kepa Arrizabalaga with the Real Madrid shotstopper injured. Midfielder Aleix Garcia, who has starred in Girona’s flying start this season in La Liga, and Atletico Madrid’s Rodrigo Riquelme also appear in the squad for the first time. However, former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte, now playing in Saudi Arabia for Al-Nassr, misses out with a foot injury that required stitches. Spain have already qualified for Euro 2024 from Group A along with Scotland, having won five of their six matches. They complete their qualifying campaign by taking on Cyprus away in Limassol next Thursday, November 16, and entertaining Georgia in Valladolid three days later.
Cristiano Ronaldo stars in Al Nassr's win over Al Khaleej to 'keep pressure' on Al Hilal
Cristiano Ronaldo praised Al Nassr's "solid win" over Al Khaleej in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday as the Portuguese forward took his tally for the season to 12 goals in 11 matches.
‘Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world, but that goal was just normal for him’: Al-Nassr coach Luis Castro
RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo’s world-class goal against Al-Khaleej has been described as “just normal” for him by his delighted Al-Nassr manager Luis Castro.
How Saudi football twins became overnight social media stars
Saudi football’s Lajami twins, Ali and Qassem, may have attracted a whole new army of followers in recent days, but the 27-year-old duo have been flying into tackles around the Kingdom’s domestic scene for almost a decade now.
Footballer Jenni Hermoso says ‘in no moment’ was kiss with Luis Rubiales consensual
BARCELONA, Spain: Spanish soccer player Jenni Hermoso said Friday that ‘in no moment’ did she consent to a kiss by soccer federation president Luis Rubiales. Hermoso issued a statement through her union hours after Rubiales claimed in an emergency meeting of the Spanish soccer federation that the kiss was consensual. Facing his possible removal from office, Rubiales refused to step down despite the uproar he caused with the kiss, which happened during a medals ceremony last Sunday after the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney, Australia. “I won’t resign,” Luis Rubiales declared four times in quick succession at the meeting. The 46-year-old Rubiales, who was also chastised for grabbing his crotch after Spain’s 1-0 victory over England on Sunday, is under immense pressure to leave his post. The kiss marred the title celebrations in front of a global audience, and criticism has steadily mounted. Spain’s acting prime minister, players unions, players for Spain’s women’s team, and even some players on men’s teams have said he must go. Several Spanish news media outlets reported on Thursday that Rubiales would step down.
FIFA opens disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales over kiss
LAUSANNE: FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Luis Rubiales on Thursday after the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president kissed Spain star Jenni Hermoso following the Women’s World Cup final last weekend. “The FIFA disciplinary committee informed Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Association, today that it is opening disciplinary proceedings against him based on the events that occurred during the final,” world football’s governing body said in a statement. FIFA said the incident “may constitute violations of article 13 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the FIFA disciplinary code.” Spain star Hermoso released a joint statement with union Futpro on Wednesday, which called for action to be taken against the RFEF president. “We are working to ensure that acts such as those we have seen never go unpunished, that they are sanctioned and that the exemplary measures are adopted to protect women footballers from actions that we believe are unacceptable,” the statement said. Human rights organization Amnesty International offered their backing to Hermoso on Thursday. “Amnesty International wants to show their support for the demands of the player, who has asked the (RFEF) to set underway ‘exemplary measures’ regarding the non-consensual kiss,” said the organization in a statement. “(We) underline that this behavior is a form of sexual violence like any other, and cannot be justified in any way.” Spain’s women’s football league, Liga F, has also called for Rubiales to be sacked. The RFEF have opened an investigation into Rubiales’ conduct and are holding an emergency meeting on Friday. Rubiales, 46, initially attacked his critics before eventually apologizing but the criticism of his behavior has not abated. Spa
Iglesias quits Spain’s men’s team after Rubiales refuses to resign
BARCELONA: Spanish striker Borja Iglesias quit the men’s national team on Friday after federation president Luis Rubiales refused to resign following his unsolicited kiss of a star of the Women’s World Cup. The Real Betis forward, who has played twice for his country, most recently in March, took a stand against the Spanish football federation (RFEF) chief’s decision to reuse to quit. Rubiales, 46, provoked world outrage by grabbing Hermoso by the head and kissing her on the lips during the medal ceremony after Spain beat England 1-0 to triumph in the final in Sydney on Sunday. “As a player and as a person I do not feel represented by what happened,” said Iglesias on social network X, formerly known as Twitter. “Wearing the Spain shirt is one of the best things that has happened to me in my career. “I don’t know if in another moment I will be available again, but I have taken the decision not to return to the national team until things change, and these type of acts don’t go unpunished. He added he was acting “for a more just, human and decent football.” In refusing to stand down on Friday, Rubiales said in a defensive and fiery speech at a football federation emergency meeting that he was suffering a public “assassination” and railed against “false feminism.” The federation president claimed his kiss was “mutual, euphoric and consensual.”