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The relationship between Vinicius Jr and Real Madrid is tense, as the Brazilian has demanded a higher salary than Kylian Mbappe in his new contract.

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• Vinicius Jr demands higher wages than Mbappe
• Brazilian's current contract runs till 2027
• Real Madrid not keen to bow down to his demand

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Madrid and Vinicius had been in contact over a new extension for the Brazilian striker, which would see him stay at the outfit till 2030. However, reports the talks have stalled and no agreement has materialised. The reason behind the standstill is the Brazilian's demand for a higher wage of €30m (£26m/$35m), including a renewal bonus, which will make him the highest-paid Los Blancos player. The club, however, are not ready to adhere to his demands and are expected to delay the negotiations while also keeping the door open for a transfer this summer if suitable bids are placed on the table for Vinicius.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 25-year-old joined Madrid back in 2018 and currently has two years left on that contract. Discussions were ongoing regarding a probable contract extension, but the talks have come to a halt with the striker demanding mind-boggling wages. While it is true that Madrid have offered him an appraisal, which will see him earn €10m (£9m/$11m) per season, they don't want to play into his demands, considering his recent downfall in performance, which was visible in the Club World Cup. In the competition, the Brazilian recorded a goal and an assist in six appearances, and if not for Trent Alexander-Arnold's injury, he would not have started against Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final, where he was subbed off in the second half after a poor outing.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Vinicius was a front-runner for the Ballon d'Or last year but ultimately did not win the award. Manchester City midfielder Rodri was bestowed with the prize and Madrid boycotted the Ballon d'Or event in protest. The attacker did not live up to the same standards in the 2024-25 campaign, with the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal far ahead of him in the running.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

  Los Blancos will soon start their preparations. With their request for the postponement of their first La Liga match against Osasuna rejected by the league authorities, the club are set to play their opener on August 19 at the Bernabeu.

Las Águilas fell short in the league final, bowed out in the Champions Cup semifinals and missed out on a CWC spot

• Set to face Xolos on this week
• Will play Toluca for the Campeón de Campeones
• Cervantes says the team will bounce back

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  High expectations made Club América’s fall even harder to take last season – failing to secure a historic four-peat, crashing out of the Champions Cup, and missing qualification for the Club World Cup.

  Alan Cervantes admitted the offseason was emotionally draining for the squad after finishing the first half of the year empty-handed.

  “Personally, and I think I speak for several of my teammates, we spent the vacation thinking about what we could’ve accomplished,” Cervantes said Tuesday. “It wasn’t easy. Even though the team was mentally and physically drained, we lost matches because of small details – set pieces, for example. There wasn’t a single team that truly outplayed us.

  "You realize the quality of the squad. The break was tough, but with each training session and our goals in mind, it becomes extra motivation to get back on track.”

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  América opened their Apertura 2025 campaign with a frustrating 1-1 draw against FC Juárez. Despite the slow start, Cervantes is confident the team will regain its form.

  “Statistically, things may look bad, but without downplaying the situation, it’s not easy to achieve what this club has done," he said. "Ups and downs are part of life. You realize you need to evolve and avoid becoming predictable. Not winning last season hit us hard emotionally, but the team is united, with the right mindset and desire to work.”

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  WHAT CERVANTES SAID

  Cervantes addressed transfer rumors surrounding teammate Brian Rodríguez, who has been linked with Inter Miami and Qatari side Al Rayyan.

  “We can’t dwell on whether he’s staying or going – it’s unpredictable, everyone makes personal decisions," he said. "We have to act as if he’s staying. He’s an excellent player. If he leaves, we’ll wish him all the best and hope it works out for him."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CLUB AMÉRICA?

  Las Águilas will host Xolos de Tijuana Wednesday in Matchday 2 of the Apertura 2025. Then on Sunday, they’ll face Toluca in Los Angeles for the Campeón de Campeones – a title clash that also presents a chance for some revenge.

Dani Olmo provided his thoughts on Barcelona's transfer business this summer and claimed his club has done a better job than Real Madrid.

• Olmo talks about Barca's summer signings
• Makes comparison with Real Madrid  
• Claims Catalans hold edge over their bitter rivals 

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite failed pursuits of Nico Williams and Luis Diaz, Barcelona have managed to complete the signings of Marcus Rashford and Joan Garcia, with Olmo claiming that his side have done better business in the ongoing window than their bitter rivals Real Madrid.   

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  Madrid have splashed considerable money in upgrading their squad after failing to win major silverware last season. Besides hiring Xabi Alonso, they have already acquired Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras, and Franco Mastantuono. More signings have not been ruled out, either. It is expected that Barca and Madrid will once again get involved in a title race that could potentially go right down to the wire.  

• WHAT DANI OLMO SAID

  Speaking on program, Olmo said: "Madrid will also want to have the best players, so in that sense it's very good. We've also strengthened our position, and even better, I'd say."  

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  WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID AND BARCELONA?

  Madrid will not begin training for pre-season until August 4. They are scheduled to play Austrian outfit WSG Tirol in Innsbruck on August 12, followed by their first league encounter of the new season on August 19 against Osasuna. Meanwhile, Hansi Flick's troops are scheduled to feature in their final pre-season outing from their tour to Asia on August 4, when they take on Daegu FC. They will then return to Spain and play the Joan Gamper Trophy game against Como on August 10. Their first game of the season will be held on August 16, away at Mallorca.  

AC Milan have rejected a €30 million bid from Newcastle for Malick Thiaw, as head coach Massimiliano Allegri wants to keep the defender at the club.

• Newcastle's €30 million offer rejected by Milan
• Serie A side asking for €45m to consider sale
• Thiaw has agreed terms with Magpies

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Fabrizio Romano, Milan have deemed the €30m (£25m/$35m) bid for Thiaw insufficient and will only consider an offer of around €45m (£38m/$53m). Head coach Allegri values him as a key part of the squad thanks to his impressive performances in the pre-season games. However, according to , Newcastle have already agreed personal terms with the defender on a contract running until 2029.

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  Milan signed the 23-year-old from Schalke for €8m in 2022. After a challenging start in Italy, he impressed then head coach Stefano Pioli and earned a regular starting role during the 2023-24 season. The following season, under Paulo Fonseca, Thiaw continued to see consistent game time and caught attention with strong performances, including a goal against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. His form also drew interest from Como coach Cesc Fabregas, but the German defender turned down the opportunity to make the move.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Having completed the signing of Ardon Jashari from Club Brugge, Milan will now try to conclude the deal for Young Boys defender Zachary Athekame who has been targeted as the replacement for Emerson Royal who left the club to join Flamengo.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR THIAW AND NEWCASTLE ?

  Milan will resist any attempts to sell defender Thiaw, as coach Allegri has specifically asked for him to remain at the club. The German, meanwhile, hopes for clarity on his future soon, with the new season set to begin in a few days.

Kai Rooney continues to follow in the footsteps of father Wayne at Manchester United, with the teenager jumping up three age groups at youth level.

• Kai jumps three age groups
• Father Wayne a United legend
• Impressed at Super Cup NI

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  At just 15 years of age, Rooney junior has been turning out against players in his own age bracket. His latest appearances came at the U16 Super Cup NI event, which is commonly known as the Milk Cup.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  He helped United to the final of that competition, having scored in their opening game and broken out Viktor Gyokeres’ famous goal celebration, with dad Wayne and mum Coleen among those in attendance at the Coleraine Showgrounds.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  United suffered final heartache against Southampton, but Rooney is preparing for more tournament action. He has, in a social media post, revealed that a call-up has been earned to the Red Devils’ U19 squad for an event in Croatia.

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• TELL ME MORE

  He will be gracing the Mladen Ramljak Tournament, with revealing that several other players from United’s U15 and U16 ranks have been selected for that competition. They are due to face Juventus, Rapid Bucuresti and Dinamo Zagreb in Group A.

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The Canaries boss has acknowledged the club's preparation for the American’s potential departure while praising his exemplary attitude and performance

• Manning confirms club contingency plans for possible Sargent exit
• Norwich boss expresses desire to retain USMNT forward
• Manager highlights striker's work ethic as cultural cornerstone

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  WHAT HAPPENED

  Norwich City manager Liam Manning says the club wants to keep USMNT striker Josh Sargent but is preparing for all scenarios amid growing transfer speculation.

  “Yeah, of course,” Manning said in his postmatch interview when asked if the club is prepared if Sargent leaves. “I think you, not just with Josh now, I think you do that for every player. I think the best practice is to be proactive with the work you do…With the interest, you’d be mad to not do anything behind the scenes to be prepared. So, of course, we want him to stay, but we have to be prepared if it doesn’t happen.”

  Despite a disappointing 2-1 loss to Millwall in their season opener, Manning singled out Sargent for his individual contribution, noting how the striker's determined work ethic directly led to his goal.

  “Yeah, he epitomized everything, for me, that we should build our culture on,” Manning added. “I think, you know, the way he worked, the goal speaks volumes in terms of he’s got no given right to score, but his attitude to lead the line, to compete, you know, he had a good scrap with (Jake) Cooper, I thought.

  “And like you said, probably came out on top given the number of times he was fouled, even a bit at the end there.  I felt for him a bit today cause he put in a huge amount of hard work and didn’t receive a huge amount of quality.”

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• WHAT LIAM MANNING SAID

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Sargent finished the 2024-25 season with 20 goal contributions in 32 league appearances and has been heavily linked with a move away this summer. He has already, reportedly, turned down a move to Bundesliga club Wolfsburg.

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  WHAT’S NEXT?

  Following their 2-1 loss to Millwall in their Championship season opener, Norwich City will face Watford in the first round of the EFL Cup on Aug. 12. They’ll then face Portsmouth away from home on Aug. 15 in their second Championship game of the season.

Thomas Muller admitted he considered a surprise switch to Australia before choosing MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps in a move swayed by city and project.

• Sydney FC offer politely turned down
• Vancouver project felt right from start
• Talks with Schuster and Sorensen decisive

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After parting ways with Bayern, legend Muller chose to begin a new chapter with MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps. Yet his move to Canada nearly took a different turn, as he came close to joining Sydney FC in Australia, where his former Bayern team-mate Alexander Baumjohann now serves as sporting director.

  Baumjohann revealed to how close the talks had been, saying: "We exchanged messages and made phone calls during the Club World Cup. And at some point, I presented our project to him via a Zoom call. From then on, we were in regular contact with him and his advisor."

  Manuel Neuer, who played alongside Baumjohann at Schalke, is also said to have helped open the door for discussions, acting as a mediator in the early stages. The Bavarian legend has opened up about the move, and revealed that the transfer in fact "appealing," but he ultimately made a "conscious" decision

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  WHAT WAS SAID?

  "I spoke to Alex two or three times on the phone, and to be honest, he made the project sound very appealing," Muller said in an interview with . "I was keen for an adventure outside Europe, and the conversations gave me a good idea of what to expect in Sydney. So I was curious."

  In the end, Muller decided against making the move to Australia, politely declining Sydney FC’s approach. Baumjohann recalled: "He called me a week and a half ago and told me his decision. That also speaks for Thomas, that he contacted me personally and told me that he was really impressed."

  Explaining his choice, Muller revealed that the project in Canada simply resonated more strongly with him: "The whole package was just great. The Whitecaps' sporting ambitions combined with the great city convinced me. The talks with sporting director Axel Schuster and coach Jesper Sorensen were completely open from the start," he said. "I made a conscious decision to go to Vancouver and the Whitecaps. It just felt right for me from the start."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Muller ended his 25-year association with Bayern after the club opted not to extend his contract, leaving as a free agent in the summer. The German icon made his debut for the Whitecaps on Sunday night, featuring in a 1-1 draw against Houston Dynamo, and made an immediate impact by blasting the ball in the back of the net with, but was called offside.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Muller will now look to settle into life in MLS and make an immediate impact with Vancouver. With his winning mentality and wealth of experience from Bayern, he is expected to become a central figure in the Whitecaps’ push for silverware this season. Sydney FC, meanwhile, will continue their search for marquee signings as they try to lure big-name players to Australia and boost the A-League’s international standing.

Borussia Dortmund managing director Lars Ricken says there is no tention between the club and Jobe Bellingham's family after an unhappy conversation.

• Dortmund opened their league campaign with a draw
• Jobe's father was unhappy with his early substitution
• Got involved in heated discussions backstage

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Dortmund bottled their two-goal lead to draw against St. Pauli to end up with a 3-3 draw in their opening league game of the season. Bellingham's family flew in to watch his debut game but were left upset to see him substituted early. Moreover, Jobe's father, Mark, was reportedly also unhappy with Niko Kovac's uncreative playing style and had a heated discussion with the club's sporting director, Sebastian Kehl.

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  Bellingham's father and a few family members made their way to the player's locker room with the help of security, where the confrontation with Kehl took place. The family members voiced their complaints about the tactical decisions and Jobe's early substitution. While Ricken emphasised that there was no problem and the situation was resolved peacefully, he asserted that he would take measures to prevent such instances from happening in the future.

• WHAT RICKEN SAID

  In an interview with , the Dortmund boss said: "We got Jobe Bellingham because we really built a relationship of trust with the parents over the years. Now the family flew in especially for their son's first Bundesliga game and wanted to meet Jobe after the game. They stood in the hallway to the locker room and had an emotional conversation with Sebastian, which, however, is not a problem at all given this relationship."

  He further added: "In the future, we will ensure that players, coaches, and any officials have access to the locker room area, so that we no longer get into trouble by commenting on such news. But today everything has been resolved – no drama."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR DORTMUND?

  Dortmund are planning to make a double swoop for Chelsea's Carney Chukwuemeka and Aaron Anselmino ahead of their next match against Union Berlin on August 31.

In The Black Stars Podcast Nii Lamptey reveals the details of how as a 15-year-old he ended up playing in Europe for Belgian club Anderlecht.

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• Lamptey tells of his journey to 'hell' 
• How an unscrupulous agent took advantage  
• And the day he was dubbed the 'next Pele' 

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  In the first episode of The Black Stars podcast, Nii Lamptey and Samuel Kuffour detail the very different journeys they embarked on when they moved to Europe as young, teenage players. 

  For Lamptey, dubbed the 'next Pele' by the Brazilian superstar himself, it was a voyage that would still haunt him decades later as he recounts his tale of broken dreams and promises as his career spluttered out after being 'treated like a piece of meat' by an unscrupulous agent. 

  Samuel Kuffour also came from abject poverty, where he 'lived in a squatter house where anybody can come in and kill you,' but went on to win the Champions League with Bayern Munich. 

  Through their stories, the episode examines themes of player exploitation, lack of support systems, and the cultural and systemic barriers that hinder the development of Ghanaian footballers. 

  It also highlights the sacrifices and challenges faced by young players seeking to make it in global football.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Black Stars Podcast is a six-part documentary podcast series by Divicage Productions, in association with GOAL, that investigates the question: why, despite such a wealth of talent, do Ghana's national team, the Black Stars, underperform?

  With unprecedented access to the players, coaches, administrators and fans, The Black Stars Podcast brings to life the journey of Ghana on the international stage.  

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  LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE

  You can listen to Episode 1: The Parallel Lives of Nii & Sammy here on Spotify, or search for The Black Stars Podcast on your favourite audio platform.  

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  WHAT NEXT FOR THE BLACK STARS PODCAST?

  Episode 2 of The Black Stars Podcast is due to be released on Monday, September 8, and charts 'The Rise, Fall, and Renaissance of the Black Stars' by chronicling the journey of Ghana’s national football team from its early dominance in African football to its struggles and eventual re-emergence on the global stage.  

  The episode highlights the critical role of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, in building a powerful footballing legacy, only for political turmoil and systemic challenges to undermine the team's progress. 

  It examines the missed opportunities of the 1966 FIFA World Cup boycott, the impact of the 1966 coup, and the Black Stars’ decline during the late 20th century. 

  Despite these setbacks, the emergence of Ghanaian stars in European football laid the groundwork for the Black Stars' historic qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, a moment that reignited national pride and put Ghana on the global football map.

Bayern Munich chief Max Eberl added that Nicolas Jackson "will be an asset" for the club, after all signs pointed towards Chelsea blocking the deal.

• Jackson joins Bayern on loan
• Completes move after Chelsea seemed to call it off
• Eberl excited about the striker's arrival

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bayern can breathe a sigh of relief after successfully signing Jackson from Chelsea on deadline day on Monday. The Bavarians' director of sport Eberl has spoken out and credited the striker for his enthusiasm and determination to ensure the deal was never completely ruled out, despite Chelsea attempting to block the move.

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  Jackson was on the brink of completing a high-profile loan move to the Allianz Arena, after the Bundesliga giants agreed to pay a €15 million (£13m/$18m) fee, with an option to buy him outright next summer. The Senegalese international had already arrived in Germany for his medical when Chelsea abruptly pulled the plug, revoking his permission to proceed following news of Liam Delap’s injury.

  Determined to secure the switch, the 24-year-old refused to return to London, holding out hope that Bayern would persuade the Blues to finalise the deal. However, his hopes were dashed as the German champions officially withdrew from negotiations on Sunday.

  Jackson, who had been seeking a fresh start after falling out of favour under manager Enzo Maresca, was eventually rewarded for his persistence. Chelsea responded by terminating Marc Guiu’s loan at Sunderland to bolster their attacking options, thereby paving the way for Jackson’s exit. With Bayern eager to find reliable cover for Harry Kane, "top secret negotiations", just hours after the operation was considered to be dead, resurrected the move. 

• WHAT MAX EBERL SAID

  Speaking to , Eberl said: "Nicolas was enthusiastic about playing for FC Bayern from the very beginning, which makes us all the more pleased that it ultimately worked out. He has already gained a lot of experience at the top international level at such a young age and has shown his qualities. With his dynamism and presence, Nicolas fits our requirements profile very well. He is hungry, will expand our offensive options with his skills, and will immediately be an asset to our team."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NICOLAS JACKSON?

  It is understood that Bayern have now paid a €16.5m (£14m/$20m) loan fee, with an obligation to buy for €65m (£56m/$76m) next summer. A contract has already been signed until 2031, with Jackson set to pocket a €14m (£12m/$16m) yearly salary if all performance-based bonuses are paid. The marksman will be expected to make his debut for Die Roten on September 13 against Hamburger.