Antoine Griezmann has ended speculation concerning his future by sealing a move to La Liga champions Atletico Madrid. The Frenchman looked set to leave Sociedad this summer, with a number of clubs interested in the winger, but will play his football next season at the Vicente Calderon, should he pass a medical. Griezmann was Sociedad's top scorer last year with 16 La Liga goals, quickly becoming one of the division's brightest young players. Having helped guide La Real into the Champions League the year previous, his talismanic presence could only haul the squad into the Europa League … [Read more...]
New ‘Ordem’ ball released for La Liga
Sports giant Nike have released the official new football for 2014-15’s biggest tournaments. The ‘Ordem’ will be used across English tournament the Premier League, Spanish tournament La Liga and Italian tournament the Serie A, with each league using different color variations of the new design. The all new ball has a new range of enhanced features and will follow the classic Nike design structure of 40 per cent synthetic rubber, 30 per cent rubber, 20 per cent polyester and 10 per cent cotton. … [Read more...]
The drinks are on us! CD Lugo’s beer-inspired kit
Galician side CD Lugo, currently in the Segunda Division B (Spain's 3rd tier), have unveiled their wacky away kit which might not be fit for those under 18. Their away kit for the 14/15 season is of a pint glass, a heavy reference to their sponsorship association with the brewing company Estrella Galicia. Have a look at this strip! The side finished 11th last season, and are hoping their glass is half-full this year if they are able to mount a promotion bid. If you think that is mad however, have a look at their third choice strip, surely intended to gain some viral publicity as an octopus … [Read more...]
World Cup star James is Madrid bound
Colombia and Monaco's young sensation James Rodriguez is reported to be arriving in Madrid imminently to sign for Los Blancos in a transfer that could become a world record fee. However the deal could hinge on the sale of one of Real's midfielders, with either Isco or Angel Di Maria being tipped as the ones to depart. According to reports in Spain and France, James' arrival looks to be a certainty, with all but the transfer fee to be decided, estimated to be around £80m. The youngster, 23, was asked whether he preferred Real Madrid or Barcelona following one of Colombia's matches at the World … [Read more...]
Arsenal target Morata makes Juve move
Highly-rated Spanish youngster Alvaro Morata has moved from Real Madrid to Juventus in a £16m deal. Once a target for Arsenal and Spurs, striker Morata was a peripheral figure for Real last season despite breaking into the squad the year before. Madrid have inserted a clause into the 21-year-old's contract that they can reacquire his registration rights for a fee of up to €30m after two years with the Italian club. Morata has joined on a five-year-deal and will link up with compatriot Fernando Llorente in Turin. Morata scored 11 times in 52 games for Real, though many of those appearances … [Read more...]
Valencia’s Mathieu pushing for Barca move
Valencia defender Jeremy Mathieu has issued a statement in an attempt to get his club negotiating with Barcelona ahead of a possible transfer. The club want up to €20m for the defender but Barcelona have been put off by the figure, offering around €14m initially. Mathieu, 30, was the subject of a bid from Barca but Valencia rejected the offer. Now desperate to clinch a deal to move to a club he calls 'the biggest in the world', Mathieu released a long statement clarifying his position and why he feels the club should reward his loyalty. "Valencia CF has an offer on their table from an … [Read more...]
Filipe Luis to join Diego Costa at Chelsea
Atletico Madrid will see another of their stars from last season depart for Stamford Bridge after Chelsea agreed a fee for defender Filipe Luis. Striker Diego Costa made the move earlier this month for £32m, following weeks of speculation, and the Brazilian left-back will join him in London. Luis, 28, is likely to replace Ashley Cole who left the club for Roma and become the club's first-choice left-back. The defender will now agree personal terms with the Blues after the clubs agreed on a £20m deal, and complete a medical in the coming days. With Atletico Madrid last season, Luis enjoyed … [Read more...]
Kroos makes Real Madrid switch
Real Madrid have completed the signing of German international Toni Kroos from Bayern Munich today for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around €30m. Kroos joins the club on a deal that will make him a Madridista until 2020. The 24-year-old, who played every minute of Germany's triumphant World Cup campaign in Brazil last month, will wear the number 8 shirt after joining the European Champions. Rumours had been flying around concerning Kroos' future at Bayern Munich, with Manchester United also interested in the midfielder. Instead Kroos preferred to make the move to Spain and join Madrid … [Read more...]
Arsenal target Atletico’s Manquillo on loan
Arsenal have interrupted Marseille's attempts to sign Atletico Madrid defender Manquillo in a bid to bring the Spaniard to London instead. It is thought that Arsene Wenger wants Manquillo to provide competition to incoming signing Mathieu Debuchy. Manquillo, 20, was due to sign with Marcelo Bielsa's Marseille but for Arsenal's interventions. The move has now been paused as news of Arsenal's interest filters through to Manquillo's representatives. Arsenal want the youngster on a season-long-loan deal to provide Debuchy with competition upon his arrival at the Emirates Stadium. A deal for the … [Read more...]
Will Luis Suarez be in La Liga next season?
For all his wonderful talent and goal-scoring ability, Luis Suarez creates chaos wherever he is. The Uruguayan striker showed promising signs of returning to redemption during a fantastic goal-scoring with Liverpool who came within a whisker of surprising the odds and winning the Premier League. His thirty-one goal haul was enough for Suarez to not only eclipse every other player in the English top flight, but also win the European Golden Boot ahead of La Liga stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The striker let his finishing do the talking, although his temperament and tendency to go … [Read more...]