REAL MADRID PREPARING FAREWELL TRIBUTE FOR CLUB CAPTAIN AT THE BERNABEU

 

Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images

According to journalist Alberto Pereiro, Real Madrid are finalising preparations for a grand farewell tribute to club captain Dani Carvajal during the final home match of the season against Athletic Club on 24 May.

The veteran right-back is set to leave the club upon the expiration of his contract this June, with no renewal being offered to the 34-year-old.

His departure stems from a difficult final campaign marred by persistent injuries and a significant reduction in playing time following the arrival of new defensive reinforcements in Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Santiago Bernabeu says goodbye to a legend

A recent foot fracture has sidelined him, casting doubt on whether he can physically participate in the final league fixtures.

Regardless of his fitness, the Bernabeu tribute will celebrate a legendary career that began as a ten-year-old in the club’s academy.

An icon says goodbye. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Since his first-team debut in 2013, Carvajal has amassed over 430 appearances and won a joint-record 27 major trophies, including six Champions League titles and four La Liga crowns.

His legacy as one of the club’s greatest-ever defenders remains untouchable, even amidst a tense final few months for the squad defined by internal friction with manager Alvaro Arbeloa and some of his staff members.

The tribute on the final matchday against Athletic Club is expected to be a highly emotional affair, marking the departure of the last active member of the squad that secured the historic “La Decima” in 2014.

Fans attending the Santiago Bernabeu will have the opportunity to show their appreciation for a player who set an example for every young prospect coming through the Real Madrid youth academy.

- Raghavendra Goudar

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LA LIGA PRESIDENT WEIGHS IN ON BARCELONA-ATHLETIC CLUB TIFF OVER NICO WILLIAMS - 'WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE REGULATIONS'

Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images For Sporte

Barcelona and Athletic Club are at a silent war over the Nico Williams saga. After all, the Catalans are close to signing the Basque superstar and Athletic Club are anything but pleased with the development.

At this point, they have done everything in their capacity to complicate the transfer but they crossed a limit earlier this week by meeting with La Liga representatives to express concern about Barcelona’s financial situation.

Tebas speaks on the case

Speaking to the media via Mundo Deportivo and clarifying the recent incidents in an interview, La Liga president Javier Tebas brought out the truth about the conversation Athletic Club had with him.

“Bilbao complained because Deco’s statement expressed his desire to sign the player,” he said, bringing out the intention behind the Basque club’s approach.

“According to FIFA regulations, he is in a protected period, and we have no authority to interfere with that,” he added.

Elaborating on the implications on Barcelona and what the club must be wary of, he said,

"What we will do, as we have always done, is that FC Barcelona will have to comply with the regulations in order to register players, whether it is Nico Williams, Haaland, Messi, whoever. And we will not change anything.”

Tebas also took an indirect dig towards the Athletic Club for releasing a public statement on the matter and how it was unnecessary.

“Athletic Club Bilbao doesn’t need to issue any statement. It’s our duty to clarify doubts about Financial Fair Play. We are transparent.”

"We don’t reveal the deep economic details of clubs, but it is known that there was a meeting of the Division Committee in February, in which the reasons for the salary caps were explained, and the situation of Barcelona was explained because we have the Olmo case,” he added on how Athletic Club knew of Barcelona’s situation.

Tebas also confirmed that Barcelona are still not in the 1:1 rule but that they are not far from reaching it.

“Barcelona doesn’t have a 1-1 rule, and I hope they achieve it as soon as possible. They already know what they need to do to be in the rule.”

“Bilbao also knows what Barcelona must do, because we were very transparent in February so that no one would question Financial Fair Play,” he concluded.

- Adithya Eshwarla

RUBEN AMORIM PRAISES MANCHESTER UNITED UNSUNG HERO 'WHO NEEDED 10 MINUTES' TO SHINE IN ATHLETIC CLUB WIN

Ruben Amorim piled the praise on his Manchester United substitutes after they inspired a comeback victory over Athletic Club in the Europa League semi-final second leg. Mikel Jauregizar gave the visitors a deserved lead at Old Trafford but the Basque club failed to capitalise on their dominance as United staged an impressive second-half performance.

Mason Mount drew the second leg level with a stunning effort from the edge of the box, before Casemiro headed in a second to put his side ahead on the night. Rasmus Hojlund poked in a third to seal the victory and Mount grabbed a spectacular brace with an effort from close to the halfway line.

Mount and fellow substitute Amad Diallo drew most of the praise for their contribution from the bench, though Amorim was also full of praise for Kobbie Mainoo, who helped United control the midfield battle in the closing stages of the match.

Mainoo the unsung hero

Speaking after the 4-1 victory over Athletic Club on Thursday night, Ruben Amorim made sure to praise the Manchester United substitutes for their impact. Most of the praise was for Mason Mount, though the United head coach also drew attention to the role Kobbie Mainoo played from the bench.

"I'm so happy for him. He is such a player. He works really hard, he has quality," Amorim told TNT Sports. "I really like Kobbie Mainoo, just 10 minutes but everything he did was really good and sometimes you're on the bench and can change the game.

“When you see that kind of guy like Mason working hard every day, eating well, having ice baths, when you have this kind of player you just want to help him. He is perfect for this position as he can be a midfielder, but also runs like a winger so I'm really happy for him.

"When you have a full squad you can think about the game. Sometimes we're surviving with people in different positions, but with more options you can change the game and push forwards and these things can help you win games."

- Rich Fay

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JOSE MOURINHO DEMANDS TV EXPERTS SOLVE FENERBAHCE LB PROBLEM

Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho has appealed to the "experts" in the Turkish media to help him solve his left-back dilemma for their next Europa League game against Olympique Lyon.

The Turkish outfit is without injured left-back Jayden Oosterwolde and Mert Müldür, who is suspended following his sending off in Wednesday's Europa League 2-0 home defeat to Athletic Club.

"If you look at our next [Europa League] match against Olympique Lyon, Müldür is suspended, who is going to play left-back?" Mourinho said. "If anyone of you can help me, if any one of the experts of TV can help me. Who is going to play left-back?"

Fenerbahce, who have won two and lost two of their six Europa League games, are hoping to win the Super Lig title this season for the first time since 2014.

Saturday's 1-0 league loss at Besiktas, which ended a five-game winning run, left them second in the standings, six points adrift of Galatasaray.

Mourinho is clearly frustrated with selection dilemmas.

"Sometimes you [media] look at things without knowing the reality of the things well," he said.

"I don't know because unfortunately I can only say a few words of Turkish, if we as a club give you the right information to understand situations. I would love to have all of my players available. You see how difficult it is for us. We didn't have a single midfielder on the bench [against Athletic]."

Jose Mourinho has appealed to the Turkish media to solve Fenerbache's left-back dilemma. Photo by Ahmad Mora - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Asked about signing reinforcements in the upcoming transfer window, Mourinho said: "I'm happy with my players. I don't throw my players under the bus. Don't expect me to come here and to tell you that I would like to have better players.

"I would like to have Jayden Oosterwolde available because for us it's really hard [without him]. But don't worry, we are going to qualify [in the Europa League]. We have two games left to get three points, and we'll get that. We are going to be stronger in the second half of the season."

Mourinho, meanwhile, clarified the comments he made earlier this week about wanting to see Athletic star Nico Williams play for Real Madrid one day.

"I love Nico Williams and when I said that I would like him to wear the Madrid jersey I didn't remember that Real Madrid has Vinícius [Júnior]," he said on Wednesday.

"I said it because I'm a Blanco [Madrid] fan and as a Blanco, you always think that way. Real Madrid has Vinícius, who is incredible, but I love this kid [Nico] who has incredible quality. He's a player that I love."

- Adriana Garcia

DANI OLMO OUT DUE TO REGISTRATION ISSUES

Photo by MANAURE QUINTERO/AFP via Getty Images

Dani Olmo will be forced to miss Saturday's LaLiga clash against Athletic Club after Barcelona lost their race to have him registered in time for the fixture, a source has told ESPN.

Olmo, 26, joined Barça from RB Leipzig for an initial €55 million ($61.6m) earlier this summer but his inscription with the league has not yet gone through due to the club's continued financial woes.

Barça remain in excess of their league-imposed annual spending limit -- a cap which all Spanish clubs have and is roughly determined by the difference between a team's revenue minus non-sporting outgoings and debt repayments -- and must reduce the wage bill and/or increase revenue to register new additions.

As a result, Olmo missed the opening-day win against Valencia last weekend.

He has been named in the squad to face Athletic, with Barça previously his inclusion was "pending the player registration being completed with LaLiga." Later on Saturday, the

Barça were working on a series of outgoings in an attempt to ensure Olmo is available for coach Hansi Flick on Saturday.

Ilkay Gündogan's departure to Manchester City has already been confirmed, while Clément Lenglet, Mikayil Faye and Vitor Roque are all close to leaving, too.

Sources confirmed to ESPN that Lenglet will sign a contract extension until 2027, spreading his remaining salary over two years instead of three, before going on a season long loan to LaLiga side Atlético Madrid.

Defender Faye is set to join French side Rennes for an initial €14m as part of a deal that includes various add-ons and clauses which would allow Barça to re-sign the young Senegal international in the future.

Roque, meanwhile, will join Real Betis on loan after failing to secure a place in Barça's first team following his €35m transfer from Club Athletico Paranaense in January.

Elsewhere, midfielder Fermín López makes the Barça squad for the first time this season after returning from some time off following success with Spain at the European Championships and the Olympic Games this summer.

There is no Andreas Christensen, though, who has an Achilles problem and is set for several weeks on the sidelines.

"I think he cannot help the team [at the moment] and he knows that," Flick said in a news conference on Friday. "Last year, he made many games only 60 minutes with problems. Now we take care of that."

Barça are also without long-term absentees Ronald Araújo, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Ansu Fati.

- Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens