Soccer Wiretap

Jurgen Klopp warned journalists Friday that he would walk away from his new role as Germany head coach if the media "behave badly" toward him or his family. Klopp addressed reporters during his official unveiling, marking his return to management more than two years after leaving Liverpool.

Klopp laid out specific conditions for remaining in the position, referencing the scrutiny his predecessor Julian Nagelsmann faced from media and former national team figures during his tenure.

"The day you don't want me anymore, you say so," said Klopp. "And I'm gone. Without severance pay. If you say tomorrow that he's rubbish, I'm gone. Not just one person, it would have to be more than that. If the DFB says he's rubbish, I'm gone. If you behave badly and don't leave my family in peace, I'm gone."

Klopp also criticized inaccuracies in recent reporting surrounding his appointment and his prior arrangement with Red Bull, where he served as head of global soccer.

"We'll need you (the press) on this path we're taking," said Klopp. "It would be important if we prioritised accuracy over speed in our reporting going forward."

Klopp replaces Nagelsmann, whose tenure ended following a disappointing round-of-32 World Cup exit to Paraguay this summer. Klopp signed a contract running through 2030, covering both the 2028 European Championship and the 2030 World Cup.

Klopp suggested Friday that this could be the final coaching role of his career.

"Jurgen Klopp doesn't have a career after the national team," said Klopp. "Ideally, this is the highlight of my career."

Klopp had been working as a pundit for German broadcaster Magenta during this summer's World Cup, a role during which he grew visibly frustrated with the press on at least one occasion. He walked out of an interview with ARD after being asked about Bastian Schweinsteiger's controversial comments regarding the Ivory Coast national team.

"No, no. I have no chance; I have no chance to answer this question," said Klopp, before leaving the interview. "Everybody likes it, so you bring me into this situation. It's not my job that everyone likes it, but this is a serious subject and I don't even know what is appropriate to say."

Klopp left Liverpool in 2024 after eight seasons and one Premier League title in 2019-20. Longtime assistant Pep Lijnders will join him as part of the new Germany coaching staff.

Pep Guardiola has declined the opportunity to become Italy's next national team head coach, according to sources with knowledge of the discussions. The Italian Football Federation had been in talks with Guardiola about succeeding Gennaro Gattuso, who departed the role in April following Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Sources speaking anonymously to protect relationships said conversations with Guardiola had not progressed and he ultimately turned down the position. FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini and federation president Giovanni Malago had previously confirmed the talks earlier this week, describing the pursuit as part of the organization's broader effort to target elite coaching candidates.

Maldini also revealed the federation had approached Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti about the role, though Ancelotti remains under contract with Brazil through 2030.

Guardiola left Manchester City at the end of the 2025-26 season after a decade with the club, winning six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and the 2023 Champions League. He has never managed at the international level, building his reputation instead through club spells with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City. The Athletic previously reported that Guardiola had a verbal agreement to become England's manager in 2024 before ultimately choosing to remain at City.

Italy's coaching search stems from a difficult stretch for the federation. The team missed the 2026 World Cup after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European playoffs, prompting the departures of both Gattuso and former FIGC president Gabriele Gravina, along with former captain Gianluigi Buffon from his role as head of delegation. It marked Italy's third consecutive missed World Cup, extending a run in which the four-time champions have not advanced past the group stage since winning the tournament in 2006, aside from their Euro 2020 title under Roberto Mancini.

Maldini addressed the ongoing search Thursday following an FIGC visit to Serie A headquarters.

"Guardiola? We can't confirm anything yet, you've identified one of our targets, but we've also spoken with Ancelotti," said Maldini. "It seemed right to start with the best in the world, but we need to verify their overall availability. I feel a great sense of responsibility and pressure; there's an ambitious project here. It's a call to arms, when Italy calls, it's hard to say no."

Real Madrid is reconsidering a transfer for Manchester City midfielder Rodri and a deal can no longer be completely ruled out. The stance marks a shift from recent weeks, when sources indicated Rodri was not on Madrid's list of potential targets, with president Florentino Perez expressing concern over his injury history and new coach Jose Mourinho favoring a different type of midfield profile.

Rodri, Spain's World Cup-winning captain, rediscovered his best form during the tournament, a level that previously earned him the 2024 Ballon d'Or. Some influential Madrid executives have since grown more open to pursuing his signing, though ESPN has not confirmed that formal negotiations have taken place between the two clubs.

Rodri turned 30 last month and has experienced a slow recovery from a knee ligament tear suffered in September 2024. Sources said Perez has long admired the player but remained hesitant given lingering questions about his physical condition, a concern shaped partly by Madrid's past struggles with veterans such as David Alaba and Dani Carvajal recovering from serious knee injuries.

Rodri had not previously been considered a realistic target this summer, with Mourinho instead naming alternatives such as Mateus Fernandes and Enzo Fernandez. Madrid also opted to renew Aurelien Tchouameni's contract, given the Frenchman plays a similar role.

Rodri's standout World Cup performance, earning tournament MVP honors after leading Spain through the knockout stage, including wins over France in the semifinal and Argentina in the final, has shifted the club's internal calculus. Sources said senior Madrid executives, including director general Jose Angel Sanchez and chief scout Juni Calafat, are now among those pushing for his potential arrival.

Mourinho's reservations reportedly stem from his belief that a different type of midfielder would better fit his intended style of play, though sources indicated that view is not considered an insurmountable obstacle. Madrid has already reversed course on other targets this summer, having signed Ibrahima Konate and Bernardo Silva after previously ruling out both moves following Mourinho's arrival.

Any potential deal would likely require departures elsewhere in Madrid's midfield to create space. Eduardo Camavinga is viewed as the player Madrid would be most open to moving on, though the France international, who was left off his country's World Cup squad, has expressed a desire to remain at the club. One source suggested Rodri's arrival could ultimately help convince Camavinga to depart.

Rodri is expected to undergo minor surgery on a back issue this summer, according to a source, though the procedure is not expected to result in an extended absence.

Luka Modric signed a contract extension Thursday to remain with AC Milan for another season. The Croatia midfielder, who will turn 41 in September, joined the Rossoneri on a free transfer in 2025 after leaving Real Madrid and made 37 appearances last season, scoring two goals.

Modric addressed the extension in a club statement.

"I am thrilled to stay at AC Milan, where you made me feel welcomed and loved from the very first day," said Modric. "After a season below our expectations, the desire to bounce back is immense. A new season and a new challenge await us, a project I believe in and that motivates me. I am ready to continue to give everything again for this shirt and I am so proud to keep wearing these colours."

The announcement came shortly after Modric returned from his fifth World Cup, where he started all four of Croatia's matches and surpassed 200 international appearances. The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner remained on the field for 109 minutes when Croatia's tournament ended in a controversial 2-1 round-of-32 loss to Portugal that included a disallowed goal.

Milan described Modric's continued presence at the club in its statement.

"One of the finest and most iconic players in world football, the Croatian will continue his journey in the Rossoneri shirt," Milan said.

Milan finished fifth in Serie A during Modric's debut season at San Siro and will compete in the Europa League this year under new manager Ruben Amorim.

Chelsea are finalizing a deal worth roughly $69.2 million to sign Crystal Palace center-back Maxence Lacroix. The France international is scheduled to undergo a medical before signing a six-year contract that would keep him at Chelsea through 2032.

Palace is exploring potential replacements for Lacroix, including Augsburg defender Chrislain Matsima, with Trabzonspor's Chibuike Nwaiwu viewed as an alternative option if a deal for Matsima cannot be reached.

The Athletic previously reported on June 23 that Lacroix was among Chelsea's primary transfer targets, with several other centre-backs also under consideration. Chelsea has also shown interest in Como defender Jacobo Ramon, who enjoyed a strong debut Serie A season under former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

Lacroix was a regular fixture in Palace's lineup last season, making 55 appearances across all competitions with three goals and three assists. He played the full match in Palace's Community Shield penalty shootout win over Liverpool in August and started the club's 1-0 Conference League final victory over Rayo Vallecano, which delivered Palace's first European trophy.

His performances helped earn Lacroix a spot in France's 26-man World Cup squad alongside Palace teammate Jean-Philippe Mateta and former Palace forward Michael Olise. He made three tournament appearances, including in France's third-place playoff loss to England.

Palace signed Lacroix from Wolfsburg in August 2024 for an $19.5 million fee with up to $3.3 million in potential add-ons. He has made 98 appearances across two seasons with the club.

Chelsea has prioritized adding a new centre-back this summer, with the futures of Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah and Mamadou Sarr potentially hinging on the arrival of a new defender and their willingness to accept a reduced role in the squad's pecking order.

Middlesbrough is finalizing a deal to sign U.S. national team midfielder Sebastian Berhalter from the Vancouver Whitecaps. Boro will pay a fee of roughly $2 million for Berhalter, who is out of contract this winter, rather than risk losing him for free.

Sources said between six and 10 clubs seriously pursued Berhalter this summer before Middlesbrough emerged as the frontrunner. He was held out of Vancouver's 4-3 loss to FC Cincinnati on Wednesday as the deal progressed.

Berhalter, 25, featured for the United States at this summer's World Cup, appearing in all five American matches with one start. He scored a powerful strike against Turkey in the group stage and added an assist during the tournament. He earned MLS Best XI honors in 2025 and has continued performing at a high level this season, earning All-Star recognition.

Berhalter posted five goals and 13 assists across all competitions last season from a box-to-box midfield role, helping lead Vancouver to the Canadian Championship title while also guiding the club to both the MLS Cup final and the Concacaf Champions Cup final.

The son of former USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter, Sebastian made his national team debut under Mauricio Pochettino in the summer of 2025 and earned a spot on this year's World Cup roster. He has since made 18 appearances for the national team.

Berhalter will join fellow American midfielder Aidan Morris at Middlesbrough. The two are close friends and former youth teammates from their time together at the Columbus Crew. Boro has been active in the American transfer market this offseason, also signing former Charlotte FC defender Adilson Malanda after a previous bid for Crew wingback Max Arfsten was rejected last year.

Berhalter's development has been one of MLS's more notable success stories in recent years. Vancouver originally acquired him for a nominal fee of $50,000 in general allocation money in 2022, the smallest denomination tradable under the league's salary cap mechanism. He has since grown into one of MLS's top midfielders and a full World Cup participant, and is now set to make his move to the English Championship.

Italian Football Federation technical director Paolo Maldini confirmed the organization has held talks with both Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti regarding the national team's vacant head coach position. Maldini addressed the situation Thursday following an FIGC visit to Serie A headquarters.

The vacancy opened after Gennaro Gattuso left the role in April following Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. FIGC president Giovanni Malago confirmed earlier this week that the federation had approached Guardiola, but Maldini revealed Thursday that Ancelotti, Brazil's current head coach, was also contacted as part of the search.

"Guardiola? We can't confirm anything yet, you've identified one of our targets, but we've also spoken with Ancelotti," said Maldini. "It seemed right to start with the best in the world, but we need to verify their overall availability."

Maldini, appointed technical director this month, described Italy's approach as beginning with the sport's most accomplished coaches before narrowing the search based on their availability. He did not disclose how those conversations have progressed.

"I feel a great sense of responsibility and pressure; there's an ambitious project here," said Maldini. "It's a call to arms, when Italy calls, it's hard to say no. I wasn't aware of the initial challenges, but I sensed the potential to make a difference and everyone's willingness to be part of the renewal. That was a key factor in my decision, as was President Malago's persuasive ability."

Ancelotti, 67, has managed Brazil since May 2025 and led the team to the round of 16 at this year's World Cup before elimination by Norway. He signed a new four-year contract with Brazil before the tournament, running through 2030. Ancelotti has won the Champions League a record five times across his club career, most recently with Real Madrid in 2024.

Guardiola left Manchester City at the end of the 2025-26 season after a decade with the club, winning six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and the 2023 Champions League. He was succeeded at City by former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.

Italy's coaching search follows a turbulent period for the federation. Gattuso and former FIGC president Gabriele Gravina both departed after Italy's playoff elimination to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties, while former captain Gianluigi Buffon also left his role as head of delegation. The failure marked Italy's third consecutive missed World Cup, extending a stretch in which the three-time champions have not advanced past the group stage since their 2006 title, aside from winning Euro 2020 under Roberto Mancini.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri will undergo surgery for a back injury, though a timeline for his return remains uncertain. The Spain captain won the Golden Ball at this summer's World Cup after leading his country to its first title since 2010, starting all eight matches at the tournament.

Rodri's future at City remains unresolved, with just one year left on his contract. Talks between the club and the 30-year-old are expected with the World Cup now over, though sources indicate he has shown little willingness to commit to an extension so far.

Rodri has been repeatedly linked with a move to Real Madrid and has previously expressed a desire to return to Spain at some point in his career, though sources told The Athletic that Madrid currently has no plans to pursue him.

The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner has struggled with injuries since rupturing his ACL in September 2024, an injury that sidelined him for nearly all of the 2024-25 season. Fitness issues continued into last season, with hamstring and groin problems limiting him to 33 total appearances and just 17 Premier League starts.

Rodri was central to City's treble-winning campaign in 2022-23, scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final against Inter Milan while making 56 appearances across all competitions that season, a year that also included Premier League and FA Cup titles.

City has already taken steps to offset Rodri's continued absence, signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest this summer in a $155.4 million deal. The Athletic also reported July 21 that Mateo Kovacic and Nico Gonzalez are considered likely departures, while Bernardo Silva has already left the club following the expiration of his contract as he will join Real Madrid.

Arsenal confirmed that defender William Saliba will not require surgery for a back injury sustained during the World Cup, though the 25-year-old faces an extended period on the sidelines. Saliba was substituted after 30 minutes of France's 2-0 semifinal loss to Spain, having started all but one of France's matches at the tournament.

Saliba went down in what appeared to be a routine moment, kicking the ball out of play and immediately calling for medical attention. Arsenal addressed the injury in a club statement.

"William Saliba has returned to us from World Cup duty," Arsenal said. "Subsequent specialist reviews on William's return to London this week have confirmed that he has suffered a back injury which will require a period of rehabilitation. Extensive assessments have concluded that surgery is not recommended, but William should now commence a managed recovery programme. William's rehabilitation will commence immediately, with continual management of his injury, and he is expected to be out of action for an extended period. Everyone is fully focused on supporting William to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible."

Saliba made 50 appearances for Arsenal last season, ranking third among the club's outfield players in total minutes played. He had been managing back discomfort even before the tournament began, addressing the issue publicly ahead of France's group match against Iraq.

"I've had some minor niggles for several months," said Saliba. "I've been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff are handling it very well."

Saliba's injury has added urgency to Arsenal's pursuit of a new central defender this summer. England international John Stones, who left Manchester City last month after his contract expired, is among the club's targets. Stones previously worked alongside Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for three seasons during Arteta's tenure as a City assistant coach, having joined the club the same summer as Arteta in 2016. Stones made five appearances for England at this year's World Cup, starting three matches.

Arsenal also holds interest in Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, though a significant gap remains between the two clubs' valuations of the player.

Andoni Iraola said signing a new winger remains Liverpool's top priority in the transfer market, addressing the club's ongoing rebuild during a press conference in Chicago at the start of preseason. Liverpool has yet to replace Mohamed Salah, who departed at the end of last season, despite completing a $46.2 million signing of World Cup winner Victor Munoz from Osasuna last month.

Iraola addressed the club's broader transfer priorities when asked how many new signings he hopes to add.

"It is difficult to say a number when the market is open," said Iraola. "You have to be always open to new options to improve the squad. There are obvious situations where we know we need to sign players. Winger, for example. We definitely need to sign a winger. The other situations, we will have to analyse what the market gives you, what the cost is, how we also see the players we have. We have some tricky positions where we have injured players that we trust that are not in the ideal situation."

Liverpool has also lost Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate this offseason, leaving the squad thin defensively according to Iraola. Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has drawn interest from Spain, though Iraola made clear he intends to keep his key players rather than lose them.

"Alexis has been one of the best players in the club in the last years," said Iraola. "He had a very good World Cup so it is normal that other clubs want our best players. It always happens in the market. I want to keep my good players. I am looking more to sign new players than losing the ones we have."

Goalkeeper Alisson, who drew earlier interest from Juventus, will also remain with the club, according to Iraola.

"Alisson is someone important for us in the changing room in terms of his experience," said Iraola. "He will help us in the process of adaptation for the new players and the young players. You need references like Virgil (van Dijk), Alisson and Joe Gomez."

Right-back remains a significant concern for Liverpool, with Conor Bradley expected to miss the opening months of the season as he continues recovering from a serious knee injury.

"I think it depends on the Conor situation," said Iraola. "If you have a fully fit, healthy Conor Bradley, we are very happy, ready to go, and we would not be asking ourselves these questions. It's a situation that is tricky because we trust Conor in the long term, we want him to be our right-back, but right now he is still a little bit far from returning, so with the centre back, with the right back situation, in terms of defensive depth, we are very thin right now. We have three serious injuries. The closest one to return is Giovanni Leoni. Then Conor and Hugo (Ekitike), but the last two are way off, we're talking about months."

Liverpool will train in Chicago before traveling to Nashville for Saturday's preseason opener against Sunderland. Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch, all of whom exited the World Cup at the round-of-32 stage, are set to join the squad ahead of the second match against Wrexham in New York. Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Alisson will instead begin preseason training at Liverpool's Kirkby facility rather than travel with the squad to the United States.

Iraola explained the reasoning behind those decisions, particularly regarding players who competed deep into the World Cup.

"With Virgil, he was the player who played the most minutes in Europe I'd say last season," said Iraola. "Instead of making them come here we decided it was sensible for them to start as part of a small group at the AXA. The most difficult situations logically will be Alexis and Victor because they played until the end of the tournament. I think they deserve their holidays and some rest, and I hope they have time at least to train with us a little bit. But it is true that it will probably affect a little bit the beginning of the season, but we cannot only think in the short term in terms of the first game against Newcastle."

Iraola also praised Dominik Szoboszlai's new five-year contract as the best news since his arrival at the club, though he has not yet named a replacement for Robertson as vice-captain.