Soccer Wiretap

Xabi Alonso Announces He'll Remain At Bayer Leverkusen

Mar 29, 2024 10:07 AM

Xabi Alonso has publicly confirmed he will remain as manager of Bayer Leverkusen for the 24-25 season despite strong interest from Bayern Munich and Liverpool.

"It has been a season with a lot of speculation regarding my future," Alonso said. "I wanted to use the international break to reflect a little bit better and to take a decision.

"Last week, I had a good meeting with Simon [Rolfes, the club's sporting director] with Fernando [Carro, CEO], when I informed them of my decision to continue being coach of Bayer Leverkusen.

"For sure all the decisions, you need to analyse well, and I tried to take the right ones, I tried to take the ones that come in a natural way, and at this moment I feel this is the right place for me to be to develop as a coach.

"I am a young coach, but I have to feel it, and right now I feel that this is the right place."

Alonso is expected to be a target for Real Madrid when the contract of Carlo Ancelotti expires in 2026.

Leverkusen is on the verge of winning its first-ever Bundesliga title. 

ESPN

Tags: Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Misc Rumor

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Alphonso Davies' Agent Critical Of Bayern's Contract 'Ultimatum'

Mar 29, 2024 10:04 AM

The agent for Alphonso Davies criticized Bayern Munich for issuing an "ultimatum" over their contract offer.

Davies' contract with Bayern expires at the end of next season, meaning the club could lose him in 2025 without receiving a fee if he decides not to extend.

Davies' agent Nick Huoseh said Bayern's approach was not fair.

"It's unfair that Alphonso is now being attacked," Huoseh said.

"We were close to an agreement a year ago. Then the entire club management was replaced. We didn't hear anything for seven months. Although I tried during this time to contact the club myself.

"Now we are being given an ultimatum and are supposed to react within two weeks because the club is under pressure and took a long time to reposition itself in the management? That's not fair.

"It's a very important contract in Alphonso's career and we're supposed to make the decision without knowing who the coach will be next season or what the team looks like. That's why we think it's unfair to react to the ultimatum."

Real Madrid remain interested in signing Davies, but are unwilling to pay more than $43.5 million to sign him. Davies' preference is to join Madrid. 

Davies has the fourth best WhoScored rating on Bayern this season.

ESPN

Tags: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Liverpool Gives Up On Xabi Alonso Replacing Jurgen Klopp

Mar 28, 2024 9:56 PM

Liverpool has given up plans to pursue Xabi Alonso to replace Jurgen Klopp as manager. Alonso has Bayer Leverkusen on the verge of winning its first-ever Bundesliga title.

Bayern Munich are also interested in Alonso, but they expect him to remain with Leverkusen for at least one more season. Alonso could wait to become manager of Real Madrid in 2026 when the contract of Carlo Ancelotti expires. 

Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi and Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim are considered the leading candidates for Liverpool. 

Mark Ogden/ESPN

Tags: Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool, Misc Rumor

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Lionel Messi Will Only Retire When He Stops Performing

Mar 27, 2024 10:49 AM

Lionel Messi won't factor age when he decides to retire and will instead make the call on whether he is contributing to his team. Messi's Inter Miami deal ends in December 2025.

"I know that the moment that I know that I'm not performing, that I'm not enjoying myself, that I'm not helping my teammates," Messi told MBC's Big Time Podcast.

"I am very self-critical. I know when I am good, when I am bad, when I play well, when I play badly... And when I feel it is time to take that step, I will take it without thinking about age. If I feel good, I will always try to continue competing, because it is what I like and what I know how to do."

Messi will play for Argentina in Copa America this summer.

"Had things not gone the way they did [in the tournament in Qatar], I would have left the national team," Messi said.

Messi turns 37 in June.

Adriana Garcia/ESPN

Tags: Inter Miami, Misc Rumor

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Kalvin Phillips Likely To Leave City In Summer

Mar 27, 2024 10:47 AM

Kalvin Phillips is likely to permanently leave Manchester City this summer. Phillips joined West Ham in January on loan.

Phillips joined City from Leeds in 2022 on a £42 million transfer.

Rob Dawson/ESPN

Tags: Manchester City, West Ham United, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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City Agrees To Sign 14-Year-Old American Cavan Sullivan

Mar 25, 2024 10:53 AM

Manchester City has agreed to sign Cavan Sullivan from the Philadelphia Union.

Sullivan is a 14-year-old left-footed midfielder and recently made his professional debut with Philadelphia Union II. Sullivan also received interest from Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. 

Sullivan is left-footed and comes from a soccer family with his older brother, Quinn Sullivan, playing for the first-team of the Philadelphia Union at the age of 19. Sullvan's father, Brendan Sullivan, played professionally, and his mother also played collegiately.

Fabrizio Romano/The Guardian

Tags: Manchester City, Philadelphia Union, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Kylian Mbappe Hopes To Play For France In Olympics

Mar 22, 2024 9:39 PM

Kylian Mbappe still hopes to play for France in the Paris Olympics despite the expectation he will join Real Madrid.

ESPN has learned that Real Madrid sent an email to the French Football Federation earlier this month explaining that they will not release any of their players for the Olympic Games.

"I have always had the same ambition. I have always said that I wanted to go [to the Olympics] but it doesn't depend on me," Mbappe said in a news conference ahead of France's friendly with Germany on Saturday.

"I can't say anything because no one has told me anything. If I can't do the Olympics so be it ... When I say no one has told me anything, I am talking about PSG. I am under contract with PSG and they haven't said anything [about the Olympics]. We haven't discussed it," he added.

Julien Laurens/ESPN

Tags: France, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid

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Giovanni Reyna 'So Far Past' Feud With Gregg Berhalter

Mar 22, 2024 10:34 AM

Giovanni Reyna assisted on both Haji Wright goals in extra time in the United States' 3-1 extra-time win over Jamaica in their Concacaf Nations League semifinal match on Thursday.

Reyna spoke about his relationship with manager Gregg Berhalter following a tumultuous 2022 World Cup. After that tournament in Qatar, Berhalter revealed during a leadership summit that he almost sent an unnamed player home during the competition for a poor attitude in training. It soon emerged that the player was Reyna, and in response, Reyna's parents disclosed to U.S. Soccer a decades-old domestic violence incident involving Berhalter and his wife.

"Obviously what happened, happened, but I think both of us are so far past it, and just so focused on the group that, yeah, it's not even an issue at all anymore. We're just so far past it," Reyna said in his first appearance in front of media in a post-match setting since the 2022 World Cup.

Jeff Carlisle/ESPN

Tags: United States

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Germany To Switch From Adidas To Nike Beginning In 2027

Mar 21, 2024 2:42 PM

The German Football Association has announced they will be ending their decades-long partnership with Adidas and will move to Nike beginning in 2027.

The DFB’s contract with Nike will run until 2034.

“We are grateful to be able to look forward to an economically stable future again as an association thanks to Nike’s commitment,” DFB treasurer Stephan Grunwald said.

“The award to the future supplier partner Nike is the result of a transparent and non-discriminatory tender,” DFB chairman Holger Blask added.

Luke Bosher/The Athletic

Tags: Germany

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Liverpool Hires Bournemouth's Richard Hughes As Sporting Director

Mar 20, 2024 10:37 AM

Liverpool announced the appointment of Richard Hughes as their new sporting director. Hughes will leave his post with Bournemouth at the end of the season.

"I am incredibly proud to be offered this opportunity," Hughes said in a Liverpool press release. "Liverpool FC is a unique club and I'm grateful to be given a chance to serve it in this capacity.

"People rightly talk about the rich history this organisation can boast, but it is the present and future which really excites me. Jurgen Klopp is leading an outstanding team and squad and alongside that the commitment to young players and their pathway to the first team is also outstanding."

Liverpool also recently hired Michael Edwards as CEO of football.

ESPN

Tags: Bournemouth, Liverpool

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Olivier Giroud In Talks To Join LAFC

Julien Laurens, Jeff Carlisle/ESPN

Six Clubs In UCL Quarterfinals Rank In Top-8 Player Market Value List

RealGM Staff Report

Madrid/City Headline Champions League Quarterfinal Draw

RealGM Staff Report

Ben White Signs Four-Year Extension With Arsenal

James Olley/ESPN

Dortmund, Atleti Secure Last Two Spots In Champions League Quarters

RealGM Staff Report

Arsenal Ahead Of City, Liverpool In xPTS For 23-24 EPL Season

RealGM Staff Report

Maurizio Sarri Steps Down As Manager Of Lazio

Fabrizio Romano/The Guardian

Celta Vigo Fires Rafa Benitez As Manager

ESPN

Liverpool Hires Michael Edwards As CEO Of Football

ESPN

City Hasn't Lost In Past 60 Matches Played With Rodri

Rory Smith/New York Times

Chelsea Could Be In FFP Jeopardy With $115M Loss Last Year

Jacob Steinberg/The Guardian

Arsenal Still Plan To Pursue Striker During Summer Transfer Window

James Olley/ESPN

Jude Bellingham Receives Two-Match Suspension From LaLiga

Alex Kirkland, Rodrigo Faez/ESPN

Dribbling Up 30 Percent In Premier League Since 18-19

John Muller/The Athletic

Paul Pogba Receives Four-Years Doping Ban

Julien Laurens/ESPN

Wayne Rooney Still Aims To Manage United Or Everton Someday

ESPN

Saudi Pro League To Pursue Several Premier League Stars Again

Rob Dawson/ESPN

Thomas Tuchel To Leave Bayern At End Of Season

RealGM Staff Report

Barcelona Has Spending Limit Reduced By $71M

Sam Marsden/ESPN

Kylian Mbappe 'Getting Really Excited' About Transfer To Real Madrid

Julien Laurens/ESPN