MICHAEL OLISE 'OBSESSED' WITH JOINING TEAL MADRID AS BAYERN MÜNCHEN STAR 'GATHERS INFORMATION' FROM HIS FRANCE TEAM-MATES DURING WORLD CUP

 

France and Bayern Munich star Michael Olise is desperate to join Real Madrid this summer, according to reports.

In what would be a sensational transfer, L'Equipe reported Olise, 24, has told his French team-mates at the World Cup that he wants to sign for the Spanish giants.

The same publication claims he has been 'gathering information' from his countrymen about the club during the tournament. Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni are the two in the French squad who play for Real.

Olise, a star of the French side that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, joined Bayern in a £50million deal in 2024. 

He has three years left on his contract with the German side so Real will have to stump up a significant fee to make his wish a reality.

L'Equipe says Olise's Bayern and France team-mate Dayot Upamecano has been pushing for the former Crystal Palace man to remain in Germany in an 'intense lobbying effort'.

🗞️ « Michael Olise, une envie de Real » : la une du journal L'Équipe du vendredi 17 juillet 2026 pic.twitter.com/R5TzJHxggx

— L'Équipe (@lequipe) July 16, 2026

Olise has been the subject of intense transfer speculation after impressing for Bayern, recording 16 goals and 27 assists in 39 league games. The winger also leads the assist charts at the World Cup with five going into France's third-place play-off against England in Miami on Saturday.

Reports in Germany earlier this year claimed Liverpool would launch an audacious £173m bid for the player amid their pursuit of a replacement for Mo Salah, but Bayern were adamant he would not be sold this summer.

Olise's name was also mentioned in the Real Madrid presidential election as it was suggested the club would table a £130m offer if Florentino Perez secured another term.

Perez did win the election but there has not yet been any contact between the two clubs regarding a player whose price may have skyrocketed after his displays for France at the World Cup. 

- LIAM MORGAN

PRESENTER AT THE CENTER OF JEREMY DOKU WORLD CUP ROW 'SUSPENDED' AFTER CHILD BIRTH COMMENT

L'Equipe presenter France Pierron has been suspended after making controversial remarks about Belgium star Jeremy Doku's decision to leave the World Cup.

Jeremy Doku faced criticism over plans to leave the World Cup for the birth of his first child. (Image: Getty)

France Pierron has reportedly been suspended by L'Equipe following her extraordinary rant aimed at Manchester City and Belgium star Jeremy Doku. The 24-year-old could be absent for the World Cup quarter-final, should Belgium reach that stage, as he plans to attend the birth of his first child in July.

The news of his potential unavailability prompted Pierron to condemn the decision on L'Equipe de Choc, branding it "disgraceful". According to French outlet Clement Garin, Pierron has been removed from presenting duties ahead of their upcoming show on Monday. The remarks made by the journalist and presenter have provoked widespread fury and condemnation, with many criticising her outdated perspective.

Doku's wife Shireen is expected to give birth during the second week of July, which will clash with the quarter-final fixtures. Speaking before the tournament, the winger confirmed he would return home to be with his partner as they welcome their first child.

Clement Garin has reported that Pierron has been suspended by the French broadcaster and will not be fronting their programme on Monday. A tweet read: "NFGO CGTV. France Pierron suspended from airing, the "L'Equipe" editorial team denounces the directory's "hypocrisy.

"According to CGTV sources, @francepierron will not be presenting #LÉquipeDeChoc this Monday. A decision the editorial team does not understand, because it was the management itself that ordered not to delete the post when it started to go viral. It was only when the backlash became unmanageable that management changed its tune by demanding the post be deleted... and turning against its own journalist!".

Jeremy Doku's partner is expected to give birth to their first child in July (Image: Getty)

Doku was absent from Belgium's goalless draw with Iran on Sunday owing to a chest infection, as Rudi Garcia's side occupy second spot in Group G behind the Middle Eastern nation. They remain ahead of New Zealand and Egypt by a single point, though the other group fixture is scheduled for Monday morning (2am), which could pile further pressure on the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku heading into their final encounter against New Zealand.

The forward said pre-tournament: "It depends on when it happens, but it's my first child, so I ‌would ⁠definitely want to be there. "If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child. But I also know that football involves many ⁠other considerations. I know the federation supports its players and understands their situations. We'll see what we can do."

Following Belgium's draw against Egypt in the group opener — where they avoided a disastrous beginning when a second-half own-goal wiped out Emam Ashour's opener — Pierron was scathing of Doku's decision to potentially miss the World Cup for a personal milestone, branding it "disgusting". She remarked: "You can't miss a World Cup... And now, you're not going to the match to cut an umbilical cord?

"You have the chance to participate in a World Cup, and there are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your place, but you're going to leave all that to go and witness the birth of your child, which is a disgusting moment, excuse me, where the father is useless, he has a role as an extra."

Following a fierce social media backlash, she subsequently broke her silence but offered only a lukewarm apology to the Belgian wide man. She wrote: "In light of the very numerous reactions following my comments in 'L'Équipe de Choc' regarding Belgian footballer Jérémy Doku, I wish to provide a few clarifications. In it, I expressed a personal opinion, within the framework of a debate

"In it, I was expressing a personal opinion, within the context of a contentious exchange. These remarks commit only me and in no way reflect a collective position. I understand that they may have shocked, hurt, or wounded some of you, and I am sorry for that.

"My intention has never been to minimize the place or role of fathers with their partner and their child."

- Stephen Killen

BALLON D'OR: REPORT SHOWS MARGIN OF RODRI WIN OVER VINICUS

France Football, the magazine that organises the Ballon d'Or award, has revealed the margin by which Manchester City midfielder Rodri controversially beat Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior to the prestigious individual prize.

Rodri won the Ballon d'Or with 1170 points, just 41 more than Vinícius (1129).

Vinícius and his Madrid teammates, as well as the club's coaches and executives, refused to attend the ceremony in Paris on Oct. 28 after learning the result ahead of time, deeming it to be a miscarriage of sporting justice.

The voting report, published by French outlet L'Equipe ahead of France Football's print version being released on Saturday, details that each of the 99 judges for the men's award listed a top 10 for the Ballon d'Or, with each first-place vote worth 15 points, followed by 12, 10, eight, seven, five, four, three, two and one point for the 10th-place slot.

That means there were 6,633 points voted for in total, showing Rodri's 41-point lead over Brazil winger Vinícius to be razor-thin.

France Football's data also showed other surprising trends, with Atalanta and Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman joining Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Lautaro Martínez and Rodri as the non-Madrid players to receive a first-place vote.

Of the players who won the Champions League with Madrid last season, Jude Bellingham (5), Dani Carvajal (4) and Toni Kroos (2) all earned multiple considerations as the best player for 2023-24 by judges.

Five jurors did not select Rodri in the top 10 of their ballot, with three omitting Vinícius.

- ESPN 

BALLON D'OR: LALIGA BOSS CRITICISES REAL MADRID FOR NO-SHOW

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has criticised Real Madrid for boycotting the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris on Monday.

Los Blancos cancelled their planned trip to the French capital after finding out that Manchester City midfielder Rodri would be announced as the winner of the prestigious award ahead of Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior.

Despite Vinícius missing out, Madrid were named as the best men's club of the season and its manager Carlo Ancelotti won the award for the best coach.

"I am a Real Madrid fan," Tebas told L'Equipe.

"The most important values of this club are being a gentleman and shaking hands when you lose. I think Real Madrid lost that spirit a long time ago. They should have gone to the ceremony and not questioned France Football's system, which is transparent, with 100 journalists voting. Real's victimhood is unnecessary and exaggerated.

"I don't know where they want to go."

Former Real Madrid star Karim Benzema, meanwhile, felt Madrid's disappointment was justified as Vinícius was the best player last season.

Vinícius scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions last season for LaLiga champions Madrid, including his team's second goal in their Champions League final win against Borussia Dortmund.

"When Real Madrid were European champions last season, Vinícius was decisive in every game," the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Benzema told El Chiringuito. "I don't think there is anyone else who deserves it more than him.

"It's a bit sad and I don't feel good for Vinícius, who deserves the Ballon d'Or."

Benzema said Vinícius' talent is more noticeable than that of Rodri.

"I have nothing against Rodri, who is a good player," he said. "But I'm on my couch, I watch television and Rodri doesn't do things that make me say: 'Pffff,' and Vinícius has done that more than once."

Benzema, who now plays for Saudi Pro League Al Ittihad, is convinced the Brazilian forward will one day win the Ballon d'Or.

"Yesterday I was talking to Vinícius, he is strong to work and one day he will have it [the Ballon d'Or]," he said. "He was sad. It's normal. It's a bit complicated when everyone sees you winning the Ballon d'Or and in the end, a day before or a few hours before they tell you that you're not going to win it.

"Vinícius is a good man, he will work and one day win the Ballon d'Or."

- Adriana Garcia

KYLIAN MBAPPÉ UNDER FIRE FOR MISSING FRANCE CAMP AS CAPTAIN

France captain Kylian Mbappé is facing criticism in his home country for skipping Les Bleus' Nations League games against Israel and Belgium while being available to play for Real Madrid.

The forward picked up a muscle injury last month but made his return to the pitch in the Champions League last Wednesday as Madrid suffered a shock defeat to Lille.

France coach Didier Deschamps left Mbappé out of the squad he announced on Thursday, saying the 25-year-old lacked preparation, having played too few matches.

Mbappé started Madrid's LaLiga win against Villarreal on Saturday, though he was substituted after 71 minutes.

"Either you're injured, and you don't play with your club and you're not called up in the national team," former France international Maxime Bossis told French sports daily L'Equipe on Monday.

"But when you come off the bench in the Champions League and you start a league game, it makes things fuzzy. He's a special player. We've known that with Michel Platini, when we still wanted him with us when he was injured."

Mbappé's situation is more complicated because the former Paris Saint-Germain player is the national team captain after being handed the armband ahead of Antoine Griezmann, who last week announced his retirement from international football.

Griezmann's commitment to Les Bleus was never in doubt as the Atlético Madrid forward played a record 84 consecutive matches for his country between 2017 and 2024.

"As a captain [Mbappé] must be an example for the fans, and he has not been," Fabien Bonnet, spokesperson for the Irresistibles Francais, the main France supporters' group, told L'Equipe.

"What emerges is that the real captain, Antoine Griezmann, is gone."

France, second in Group A, face Israel in Budapest on Thursday and travel to Brussels to play Belgium on Monday.

- Reuters 

ALPINE F1 TEAM: RENAULT WON'T SELL 'FAMILY JEWEL' - LUCA DE MEO

Luca de Meo has said Alpine is not for sale. Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images

 Renault chief executive Luca de Meo has said their "family jewel" Alpine Formula 1 team is not for sale after the company confirmed its engine production will end after next season for financial reasons.

In an interview with L'Equipe, the Italian defended the strategy of Alpine racing from 2026 with a power unit provided by another manufacturer, most likely Mercedes.

The move, announced this week, will end nearly half a century of Renault engines in F1, with the French manufacturer powering Williams, Benetton, their own team and Red Bull to 12 constructors' titles.

De Meo said Renault were spending €200-250 million ($220.5-275.7m) a year on engine production at the Viry-Châtillon facility outside Paris, while buying an engine from another manufacturer would cost less than $20m.

He added that Renault was at a disadvantage to other teams in having chassis and engine factories in separate countries, with the team based at Enstone in central England.

"At Enstone they are very independent, used to working under different colours. I should have re-grouped everything but it would have been in England. Hard, no?," De Meo said.

De Meo said former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore had been brought in to revitalise the F1 project, not oversee a change of ownership.

"I read that he was tasked with packaging the project to eventually sell the team. It's completely false," he said.

"Every fortnight I get calls from financiers, eccentrics, who want to enter F1. They know that after 2026 it will be much more expensive.

"I won't sell, I'm not stupid. Being in F1 is essential for the Alpine brand. We are in a closed club. It brings credibility for the brand among motor racing fans. We don't need the money."

De Meo said most fans focused on the team and drivers rather than the engine, citing championship leaders McLaren who are winning and attracting sponsors while using a Mercedes power unit.

Alpine, whose investors include Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds and NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, had become "invisible" -- ninth of 10 teams, with vanishing marketing benefits, De Meo said.

"Two more years like that and the project would have deflated completely," De Meo said.

- Reuters 

NEYMAR SET SAUDI'S AL HILAL AFTER PSG AGREE DEAL

Reuters 

Brazil forward Neymar is headed for Saudi Arabia after Pro League side Al Hilal agreed a two-year deal with Paris St Germain, Saudi state media reported on Monday.

There was no immediate comment from the Ligue 1 champions, owned by Qatar Sports Investments, but French newspaper L'Equipe said the deal could net 31-year-old Neymar 160 million euros ($175 million).

The transfer fee was reported to be about 90 million euros plus add-ons and subject to completing a medical.

FIRST SPANISH TOUR DE FRANCE 🇫🇷 WINNER BAHAMONTES DIES

Reuters 

Federico Bahamontes, the first Spaniard to win the Tour de France, has died at the age of 95, Spanish officials said on Tuesday.

Bahamontes, who earned the nickname "The Eagle of Toledo" after numerous victories in the mountain stages, won the Tour de France in 1959 and was also the first cyclist to complete a 'career triple' by winning the 'King of the Mountains' classification in all three Grand Tours.

Born in Toledo, he won 11 Grand Tour stages from 1954-1965 and was named the best Tour de France climber of all time in 2013 by French newspaper L'Equipe.

MBAPPÉ TELLS PSG HE WILL NOT RENEW CONTRACT IN 2024 | L'EQUIPE

Pascal / Reuters 

Kylian Mbappe has told Paris St Germain he will not take up the option of a one-year extension in his contract when it expires next June, L'Equipe reported on Monday.

Mbappe, a World Cup winner with France in 2018, confirmed his decision in a letter to the club and could even be sold this summer as PSG will seek to avoid losing him for free, according to the local reports.