Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has late this week tipped an up-and-coming member of the club’s defensive ranks for an increasingly prominent role in his squad. The player in question? Xavi Espart. Youngster Espart has for his part broken into the first-team picture in Catalunya’s capital over recent months. Advertisement Owing to the personnel problems

AIA chief Gianluca Rocchi (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) With news Inter’s club referee manager Giorgio Schenone was mentioned in Gianluca Rocchi’s wiretapped calls, Marco Gabriele explains what the role actually entails. The scandal that prompted Serie A and B refereeing designator Rocchi to suspend himself this week continues to grow, with more questions

The island of Tenerife has dressed up for the occasion and is experiencing a day of absolute euphoria. CD Tenerife have secured their long-awaited promotion and return to professional Spanish football, leaving behind the bitter blow of relegation to Primera RFEF just a year ago. This feat has unleashed a wave of joy spreading to

The war for securing young talent is not limited to club football, but is quite widespread even on the international scene. Such battles are seen best in cases where young players are eligible to represent more than one national team owing to their family’s grassroots, leading to a battle between the country of their origin

May 1 (UPI) — Barcelona players will sport Olivia Rodrigo logos on their jerseys when they host rival Real Madrid on May 10 in El Clasico, the Spanish La Liga soccer club announced Friday. Players from the Barcelona women’s team, in Liga F, also will don jerseys that include the logo when they take on

Valencia youth prospect Yulian Mosquera has caught Real Madrid’s eye. He’s only 15, but the defender is already built for the elite game: 6-foot-4, with pace as another of his calling cards. His upside is such that those who know him best aren’t shy about comparing him to his older brother, Cristhian – and that’s

Real Madrid could be heading into the summer with more than just transfer decisions to make. A worrying update from Guillermo Rai, as relayed by Madrid Zone, has revealed growing frustration inside the dressing room, particularly among the Spanish players, regarding the management of Alvaro Arbeloa. Advertisement The issue, as reported, has grown to the

Ian DarkeMay 1, 2026, 07:00 AM ET Close Darke, who called games for the network during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, is ESPN lead soccer voice in the United States. He has covered the Barclays Premier League and the Champions League since 1982, and has one of the world’s most recognizable soccer

by Martin Moodie in Hong Kong, China | 1 May 2026May 1, 2026 Click on the image to discover more about Strange Nature, including its geographic origins and distinctly strange spirit base INTERNATIONAL. Here’s another chance to win a great prize in our Strange Predictions* contest hosted by Strange Nature Gin of New Zealand as

Every Friday, I pick for you the best or most exciting games not to be missed in the world of football each weekend. From derbies to top of the table clashes and relegation six-pointers to world-class players facing each other or other interesting tactical battles, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. This week,

Matias Soulé, despite a difficult 2026 due to chronic groin pain, remains one of Gian Piero Gasperini’s key players for Roma. The former Frosinone player has quality, dribbling ability, and plenty of room for improvement given his age. Born in 2003, he has everything to learn from the Grugliasco-based coach. The Giallorossi, however, must sell