Rangers could now be without an “important” 17-goal player for a chunk of the rest of the season, according to a new update that will concern Barry Ferguson.
Rangers starring under Ferguson with wins over Fenerbahce and Celtic
The Gers are still basking in the glory of their 3-2 win away to rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday afternoon, following Hamza Igamane’s late winner at Parkhead, having initially blown a 2-0 lead.
While the result may not necessarily make a huge difference to the grand scheme of things in the title race this season, it was further proof that Rangers are heading in the right direction under Ferguson, who remains in temporary charge for the time being.
The Scot has guided his side into the quarter-finals of the Europa League, following last Thursday’s penalty shootout win over Fenerbahce at Ibrox, and he will now be dreaming of getting the job on a permanent basis.
Should Rangers go all the way in Europe this season, there will only be increased calls for Ferguson to take charge in the long term, in what promises to be an exciting end to the campaign. A fresh blow has now emerged regarding a key player, however, which the boss won’t want to hear.
Rangers could lose Cerny for 8 matches
According to The Daily Record [via Ibrox News], Rangers attacker Vaclav Cerny could miss as many as eight matches for squirting water at Celtic fans after the winning goal on Sunday.
A ban appears to be coming the 27-year-old’s way, and while it may only be as short as two games, there is no guarantee that it won’t be more. He would only miss domestic fixtures, however, not Europa League outings.
Vaclav Cerny
Cerny has been such a key player for Rangers throughout this season, so Ferguson will be sweating over not having him available for a string of league matches.
The Czech has scored 17 goals in total – 11 in the league and six in the Europa League – also registering four assists, and Philippe Clement was complimentary of him during the time working together at Ibrox, saying:
“Vaclav showed a lot of composure in his moments, and it’s those moments that I want to see more and more from the team. He’s been working hard for the team and the club. He’s a player who is just in the building and people forget that; some players need six months to adapt to a new environment. In that way, he has already done some really good things and he will only grow in the future to become more important for the club.”
"Pathetic" – Pundit slams Sutton's comments following Rangers win at Celtic
He is just trying to get a rise out of Gers supporters.
ByHenry Jackson Mar 18, 2025
Hopefully, the authorities don’t feel that Cerny’s behaviour at Parkhead is worthy of a long ban – it could be argued that what he did wasn’t overly malicious – but if not, other attackers will need to step up in his absence.
Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada says that the club "know what we need to do" in the summer transfer window following their miserable season.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
United vow to strengthen the squad this summerBerrada says club are 'ready' for transfer windowCoach Amorim to be involved in signingsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
United are expected to invest heavily in the first-team after plummeting to a 15th place finish in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final. The Red Devils have already agreed to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolves in a £62.5 million ($84m) deal, while they are reportedly targeting Ipswich striker Liam Delap, among others.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
United boss Ruben Amorim suggested the club's prospects in the transfer market are restricted after missing out on a place in the Champions League and while Berrada admitted they must be "prudent", he insists they will be ambitious after months of planning with the Portuguese coach.
WHAT BERRADA SAID
"I can't talk about specifics but I can say we have been planning for many months now," he told . "We were ready for all the different scenarios and now know what we need to do. We have a very clear idea where we need to invest in the squad to improve. So Jason [Wilcox, technical director], his team and Ruben have been in talks, as I said, for many months. Now it's a question of executing that plan and doing it in a way that is prudent but, at the same time, with ambition."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?
United suffered a 1-0 defeat in a friendly against ASEAN All Stars on Wednesday and will take on Hong Kong later this week before heading on a summer break.
Cristiano Ronaldo is, like eternal rival Lionel Messi, ready to "cash in" with a World Cup win, while being tipped to grace the 2034 finals.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Fired Portugal to Nations League finalShowing no sign of slowing down at 40Ready to compete for global crown in 2026Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
That would be some stretch for a man who is already 40 years of age, but Ronaldo has made a career out of bucking the odds and silencing any doubters. He is expected to star at a sixth global gathering of his remarkable career in the summer of 2026.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The Portuguese GOAT has fired his country to another UEFA Nations League final, reaching 220 caps and 137 goals in the process, with there no sign of the Al-Nassr frontman slowing down as he continues to pursue major honours.
WHAT JURGEN KLINSMANN SAID
World Cup-winning former Germany international Jurgen Klinsmann told after seeing Ronaldo down his country in the Nations League semi-finals: "If he can deliver his work to the team, then there is no doubt about it that he can still play on – that he can play this summer and next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
"This is just simply incredible. We have lost a little sight of him since he went to Saudi Arabia but even there he has delivered, he does his job.
"Similar to what we saw in Qatar with Messi, at a later stage he cashes in with all his trophies – two Copa Americas and then the World Cup. He is still ready to cash in, maybe next summer at the World Cup with his Portugal team – which is a very exceptional side."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty/GOALDID YOU KNOW?
Ex-Norway international and Premier League striker Jan Age Fjortoft is another backing Ronaldo to deliver on the grandest of stages for as long as he wants to delay retirement. He added: "He is 40 but still doing the job. We also have to praise the national coach of Portugal, that he finds his role in there.
"Yes, you could see on the bench that they got even better when new players come on the pitch. But, hello, he has scored 137 goals – one, three, seven! When I grew up, when there was a player scoring 37 goals for their country, that was sensational, and this guy has 220 caps!
"He will probably be playing in Saudi Arabia in 2034 this man! It's unbelievable what the guy is doing."
Dom Bess chimes in with 41 not out to help guide visitors home at Chesterfield
ECB Reporters Network14-Jun-2023Yorkshire celebrated a County Championship victory for the first time in 14 months when they beat Derbyshire by three wickets on the final morning of the match at Chesterfield.Shan Masood played the leading role against his former county with an unbeaten 95 off 112 balls while a run-a-ball 41 not out from Dom Bess helped see the visitors home after Dawid Malan had fallen to the first ball of the day.Yorkshire needed 65 when Mark Watt removed Malan but Masood and Bess played with composure to share an eighth-wicket stand of 68 from 82 balls to win a gripping contest on 215 for 7The odds had shifted in Derbyshire’s favour when Watt struck with the first ball of the morning. Malan tried to paddle sweep the left-arm spinner but only succeeded in lobbing a simple catch to Matt Lamb at short leg.Given the situation, it was a poor shot by a player of Malan’s quality and experience and put even more responsibility on the shoulders of Masood.With balls keeping low,, there was little margin for error but Bess eased some of the tension by sweeping Watt behind square for four before Masood stroked Alex Thomson to the cover boundary.There were more cheers from the Yorkshire dressing room when Bess cut Watt for four and clipped him through midwicket for three but there was an anxious moment for the visitors in the same over.Masood was on 76 when he missed a sweep at Watt and umpire Chris Watts appeared to uphold the appeal but was only signalling to the bowler to get off the pitch.Bess drove Thomson through the covers for another four and when Zak Chappell replaced Watt at the Pavilion end, Masood turned him behind square to the ropes.Watt switched to the Lake end but the target was now under 20 and Masood swept him to the midwicket boundary to move into the nineties.With 14 required, Thomson replaced Chappell but Bess skipped down the pitch to whip him through midwicket for four and in the next over, he swept Watt for another boundary to take Yorkshire to within touching distance of the finishing line.With everyone around the bat, Bess turned Watt through midwicket for three and struck the winning blow by pulling a Thomson full toss to the boundary shortly before midday to finally end Yorkshire’s 17-game wait for a red-ball victory.
When one chapter closes, another begins, with Manchester City now preparing for their next phase under Pep Guardiola, following what has been a difficult season at the Etihad.
The side that romped to the treble just two years ago could well be ripped up in the near future, with Kyle Walker already out on loan at AC Milan, while Kevin De Bruyne looks set to depart amid his expiring contract.
Elsewhere, rumours are rife regarding Jack Grealish’s future at the club, while a new goalkeeper could also be on the cards, with Guardiola having alternated between Ederson and Stefan Ortega this season.
Having been left with something of an ageing squad, the Citizens have begun to look to the future with a handful of notable January recruits, with Vitor Reis (19), Abdukodir Khusanov (20) and Nico Gonzalez (23) all arriving as part of an extensive recruitment drive.
With Egyptian sensation Omar Marmoush also snapped up on a £59m deal, the squad evolution is already in full swing in Manchester, with it exciting to ponder what the starting XI could look like next season, with even more recruits brought into the fold.
1 GK – James Trafford
James Trafford for Burnley.
As pundit Jamie Carragher stated following the defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League, “we are at the stage with Man City where they need a new goalkeeper”, amid Ederson’s dip in form of late.
With the Brazilian also having just a year left on his current deal, acquiring a suitable replacement should certainly be a priority, with academy graduate James Trafford a potential pick amid the presence of a buy-back clause in his switch to Burnley.
The 22-year-old notably kept 12 clean sheets in a row in the Championship earlier this season, with manager Scott Parker stating that he has “absolutely humongous potential”. A reunion with City would be a welcome one.
2 RB – Achraf Hakimi
Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi.
With Walker currently out in Milan, the onus is on finding a successor to the veteran Englishman at right-back, with Achraf Hakimi among the list of names to have been mentioned of late.
Formerly on the books at Real Madrid – having also turned out for Inter and Borussia Dortmund – the Moroccan sensation is a player of real pedigree, while at 26, he still has plenty of time left at the top.
The full-back’s strength particularly lies in his attacking quality having registered 11 assists across all fronts this season, ensuring he could be the man to deliver the goods to Erling Haaland and co.
3 CB – Abdukodir Khusanov
After overcoming a shaky debut against Chelsea, in which he gifted the opener to the Blues, young Khusanov has impressed in City’s backline, having caught the eye due to his physical attributes of late.
The former Lens starlet has clearly impressed his manager, with Guardiola having stated earlier this month: “The impact has been really good. We cannot demand for him to do something, like he still needs to do it. But defensively and aggression and the concentration is massive, it’s really good.”
The future certainly looks bright for the promising centre-back.
4 CB – Ruben Dias
Brighton & Hove Albion'sJoaoPedroin action with Manchester City's Ruben Dias and Abdukodir Khusanov
Following the 2-2 draw with Brighton, City have now conceded 40 goals in the league this season, their worst record since Guardiola took charge back in 2016.
Improvements certainly need to be made, although Ruben Dias should remain as the bedrock of the side, having largely been something of a “man mountain” at the Etihad in recent years, as per former City defender, Michael Ball.
5 LB – Josko Gvardiol
Perhaps one of the easiest picks in this side, Josko Gvardiol has nailed down the left-back berth of late, having repeatedly showcased his attacking prowess after scoring five Premier League goals this season already.
While questions have been asked over his quality defensively, the Croatian should remain a mainstay in the backline. As The Guardian’s Ben McAleer stated back in May, the 23-year-old is the ‘perfect defender for a Pep Guardiola side’.
6 DM – Rodri
Oh how he has been missed.
Described as “irreplaceable” by his manager following his cruel injury blow at the start of the season, Rodri has left a sizeable void in the midfield ranks in 2024/25, with City having struggled to cope without their Ballon d’Or winning hero.
Yes, Guardiola may have found his “mini Rodri” in the aforementioned Gonzalez, yet when Rodri returns, the Spaniard will once again be the main man in midfield.
7 DM – Bruno Guimaraes
Previously likened to De Bruyne upon his move to Newcastle United back in January 2022, Bruno Guimaraes could be the new centrepiece of Guardiola’s midfield, having again been linked with a summer move to the Etihad.
The Brazilian machine – who has racked up 44 goals and assists in 144 games for his current side – was only recently a central part of the Magpies’ Carabao Cup triumph, although further silverware could lie in store if he leaves St James’ Park behind.
Capable of operating as a number six or as a number eight, the 27-year-old could represent the perfect partner to Rodri, having even been lauded as an “exceptional holding midfielder” in the past by Guardiola.
8 RW – Phil Foden
Football moves quickly doesn’t it? From finishing as the PFA Player of the Year last time out, Phil Foden has been far from at his best in 2024/25, with the Englishman’s last goal coming back in January against Chelsea.
Despite this recent slump, however, it would be foolish to write the playmaker off just yet, with Foden at his best still a shoo-in for this side.
Supported by the overlapping runs of a player like Hakimi, the 24-year-old could wreak havoc cutting in from the flanks next season.
9 AM – Omar Marmoush
In a season devoid of too many positives, the instant impact of Marmoush has undoubtedly been one reason for optimism, with the former Eintracht Frankfurt man having netted four goals from his first ten games in a City shirt.
A player who can operate all across the front three, the 26-year-old has found joy while operating behind Haaland of late, with that potentially a combination that could thrive even further next season.
10 LW – Jeremy Doku
From the days of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez, the current crop of City wideman certainly need to deliver more, with Savinho and Jeremy Doku having scored just eight goals between them in all competitions this season.
That said, Doku, in particular, is a unique talent who is worth persisting with, having memorably run Trent Alexander-Arnold ragged in the defeat to Liverpool last month. If such dribbling prowess – which saw the winger beat his man on 11 occasions – can be coupled with an end product, then City will be onto a winner.
Chelsea are beginning to lay groundwork over signing a “dream” target for manager Enzo Maresca, with new contact made ahead of the summer window.
Chelsea making transfer plans ahead of Club World Cup
This summer, the Premier League has announced that there will be two separate transfer windows.
Chelsea could offer Chalobah or Mudryk in part-exchange bid for £50m defender
The west Londoners are prepared to make an offer.
ByEmilio Galantini Mar 28, 2025
To allow both Chelsea and Man City to sign players before the Club World Cup, the first of these transfer windows will open from June 1st and will remain active until June 10th, with Maresca’s side expected to bring in fresh faces during that time.
Tottenham (home)
April 3rd
Brentford (away)
April 6th
Ipswich Town (home)
April 13th
Fulham (away)
April 20th
Everton (home)
April 26th
Journalist Simon Phillips previously reported that Chelsea have actively worked on a deal for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, who they could hope to sign before the CWC takes place, but the Englishman isn’t their only forward target in that regard.
The Blues are also rumoured to be after a new winger, and their supposed “dream” target is Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams.
Athletic Bilbao'sNicoWilliamscelebrates scoring their third goal
The Spain international, who racked up 19 assists in all competitions at Bilbao last season, also played a major role in his country’s Euro 2024 triumph, and he currently stands out as one of Europe’s most exciting young stars.
Williams’ contract contains a £49 million release clause, meaning he is very much obtainable. However, the player is on good wages at Bilbao, rumoured to be around £200,000 per week, and the main obstacle will lie in convincing the player.
“Nico Williams is the dream wing target for top clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern and let’s see what happens with Barcelona,” said Fabrizio Romano to GiveMeSport recently.
“More than 1 year ago, Chelsea wanted Nico Williams. For sure, they will add one more winger in the summer window. You have to convince Nico, that’s the main factor for these clubs.”
Chelsea make "fresh contact" to sign Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao
According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea haven’t given up hope of landing the 22-year-old, and it is believed they’ve made an approach ahead of the first transfer window in early June.
Chelsea have apparently held “fresh contact” over signing Williams, and are considering a “blockbuster” move for the highly-rated gem, even if they face stiff competition from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham.
Their race for Champions League qualification will be crucial in the race for Williams, as the forward has set his sights on playing in Europe’s biggest competitions. He is considered a top target on their agenda, as Romano previously reported, but there is still work to do for them to convince him to swap Bilbao for England.
This season, Williams boasts nine goals and seven assists from 37 appearances in all competitions, as well as being one of La Liga’s most lethal dribblers when it comes to successful take-ons per 90 (WhoScored).
He’d be a truly excellent replacement for Mykhailo Mudryk, who’s serving a ban due to his failed drugs test, or Noni Madueke, who’s attracting interest from Aston Villa.
Kylian Mbappe has been criticised by Jerome Rothen for his performances for France against Spain and Germany despite scoring two goals.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
France finishes third in Nations LeagueMbappe played key role in four goalsRothen far from impressedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Mbappe’s latest heroics for France earned them third place in the 2025 Nations League but ex-France player Rothen, who spoke on French outlet , was far from impressed by the French captain’s showing.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite scoring a penalty and providing an assist, Mbappe’s France came short against Lamine Yamal’s Spain which set up their third place play-off Germany where Mbappe once again scored a goal and assisted Michael Olise for the second goal.
WHAT ROTHEN SAID
Speaking on French television, Rothen discussed Mbappe’s technical issues, saying: : "As is often the case, he came to participate in the game because he wanted to touch the ball, seeing that he wasn't served. But did you see the technical errors, in the transmission between the midfield and the attack?
“When the team is suffering, he disappears far too much for an attacking leader. When they are suffering less, he creates opportunities, as was the case against Spain."
Finally, he challenged Mbappe to become better when he said "For Kylian Mbappe, who proclaims himself the best player in the world of football, you have to be much more efficient, my friend. Because with the number of opportunities you have. And it's not just in that match; it had been a year since he had scored in open play [with the national team]… I think that Kylian Mbappé, who was creative at one time, is no longer at all today. That's why he plays as a number 9. Because he doesn't make enough effort when he plays on the wing. Because when he has the ball at a standstill, he can't really eliminate it and he wastes a lot. In his passes today, he wastes a lot more than before."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE ?
Club duties will resume for Mbappe who will return to Real Madrid with their newly appointed coach Xabi Alonso. Madrid will take on Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup on June 19.
Durham’s late batting stutter is costly after Ollie Robinson’s half-century
ECB Reporters Network29-May-2023Alex Hales scored an unbeaten 65 to guide Nottinghamshire Outlaws back to winning ways in the Vitality Blast, defeating Durham by five wickets at Seat Unique Riverside.The England opener was in dominant form for the Outlaws bouncing back from a duck against the Lancashire Lightning in his last outing. Hales was aggressive at the start of his knock to put his team ahead of the rate before playing the anchor role, allowing team-mates Tom Moores and Shaheen Afridi to blast Notts over the line with four balls to spare.Earlier in the day, Ollie Robinson scored his second T20 fifty in two days to top score for the hosts in their innings of 168. But, Durham were made to rue a costly end to their innings after scoring only nine from their final two overs, which played a significant role in their first defeat in the competition this season.After losing the toss, Durham’s Graham Clark looked to build on his century in their opener match and found his range in the third over, clattering Afridi for a six and boundary into the leg-side from successive deliveries before just lifting an off-drive over the head Matthew Carter at mid-off to hand the home side impetus.Conor McKerr halted Clark’s onslaught for 29 as the opener picked out Mullaney. But, Michael Jones kept Durham’s strong start alive after surviving an edge past Tom Moores from his first ball. The Scotland international scored five boundaries in a quick-fire 26 from 12 balls, but Mullaney produced a gem to bowl Jones and then prised out Alex Lees for 13.Durham required a response to stem the tide. Turner and Robinson produced a vital stand under pressure worth 57 for the fourth wicket. The two players complemented each other well with the guile of Robinson and the power of Turner providing the foundation of the Durham innings.Turner attempted to push the run rate on but presented Mullaney with his third wicket when Hales took a good low catch at long-off. Robinson pressed on and continued to defy the Nottinghamshire attack, dispatching Afridi for two boundaries to record his second Blast fifty on the bounce following his career-best effort against Yorkshire.Afridi had his revenge to bowl Robinson before he and McKerr bottled up the home side in the final two overs, which cost just nine runs, to restrict Durham to a total of 168 from their 20 overs.Joe Clarke began the Outlaws’ reply with a blistering start, scoring three boundaries and a six. But, Liam Trevaskis displayed great reactions to palm up a powerful drive to remove the opener caught and bowled. Hales answered back for the visitors, smashing 25 off one over from De Leede, including two towering sixes into the leg-side.Ben Raine and Nathan Sowter made inroads into the Nottinghamshire line-up, but Lyndon James offered a useful cameo to take the pressure on Hales to keep the visitors ahead of the required rate before he fell for 20 to Turner.Amid the fall of wickets, Hales altered his approach from aggressor to game manager, reaching his half-century from 33 balls for the 72nd time in T20 cricket. His innings allowed Moores to find his range against Trevaskis, smashing 16 off the 14th over to edge Notts closer to their victory target.Moores became Raine’s second victim of the game for 32, but there was to be no late drama as Afridi smashed two sixes off De Leede and then Trevaskis in the final over to secure the win for the visitors.
Only 40 overs possible with skipper’s 81 key against Gloucestershire
ECB Reporters NetworkOnly 40 overs were possible on the opening day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival where Glamorgan closed on 152 for 2 in their LV= Insurance County Championship match with Gloucestershire.Rain and bad light frustrated players and spectators at the College Ground after an opening stand of 111 between David Lloyd and Zain ul Hassan, who batted through the morning session.Lloyd led the way with an exuberant 81 off 102 balls, with 13 fours, while ul Hassan contributed a solid if less fluent 30 from 103 deliveries.Off-spinner Zafar Gohar and seamer Tom Price were the Gloucestershire wicket-takers after they had lost the toss. The hosts gave a first-class debut to 19-year-old Joe Phillips and had seamer Paul Meekeren playing for them in a Championship game for the first time.Lloyd looked in excellent touch from the outset on what appeared a true batting pitch. The Glamorgan skipper had just two worrying moments in making his way to an attractive half-century off 57 balls, with 10 fours.The first came when he was struck a stunning blow on the helmet by a short ball from van Meekeren with his score on 33 in the 16th over. The impact saw pieces fly off the helmet and play was held up while Lloyd was checked over. He was soon deemed fit to carry on, but had an escape on 44 when dropped at point by Price, diving two-handed to his right, off the bowling of seamer Dom Godman.By lunch, which was taken at 100 for no wicket off 29 overs, Lloyd had progressed to 65 not out, while ul Hassan had struck five fours in his 30.Price had looked the pick of the Gloucestershire bowlers, conceding only seven runs from his opening spell of six overs. But it was Gohar, introduced just before lunch, who made a much-needed breakthrough shortly after the interval.Without adding to his score, ul Hassan went across his stumps to glance a ball from the spinner, failed to get a touch, and fell lbw. Nelson had struck as the scoreboard, which had stopped working for much of the morning session, registered 111.The first rain break came soon after 2pm, with Lloyd having moved onto 80. Tea was taken at 3.15pm and 18 overs were lost before the resumption at 4pm.Having added only a single to his score, Lloyd fell leg before to Price, aiming to play into the leg side off the back foot, his chances of a century having been hampered by the interruption to play.It was 122 for 2 and Gloucestershire thought they had taken a third wicket seven runs later when Sam Northeast, on three, played a ball from van Meekeren to gully where Price claimed what would have been a sensational low one-handed catch, diving to his left.The home players grouped to celebrate, but the experienced Northeast stood his ground and after consultation, umpires Neil Pratt and Chris Watts ruled him not out. Words were exchanged between van Meekeren and Northeast before the over was concluded and tempers cooled.Colin Ingram brought up the Glamorgan 150 with a pulled four off Price before bad light and drizzle sent the players off at just after 4.20pm. The rain then became steadier and the umpires called off play for the day at shortly before 5.30pm.
After their trophy-less campaign, Los Blancos have been busier than most in preparing for this summer's tournament in the United States
Carlo Ancelotti was adamant: the Club World Cup did not matter. He didn't care for it, and he insisted hat Real Madrid would not take it seriously either. In fact, his Blancos team could even refuse the opportunity to play in the competition.
"FIFA forgets that players and teams will not participate in the new Club World Cup. A single Real Madrid match is worth €20 million and FIFA wants to give us that amount for the entire tournament. Negative. Like us, other clubs will refuse the invitation," the then-Madrid manager said in June 2024.
Within 24 hours, both he and the club themselves had a remarkable change of heart. Suddenly, they were pro-Club World Cup. Ancelotti insisted his comments had been taken out of context, while Madrid put out a defiant statement: "Our club will take part, as planned, in this official competition which we face with pride and with the utmost enthusiasm to once again make our millions of fans all over the world dream of a new title."
Since then, Madrid have been up for this summer's tournament in the United States. However, in recent weeks, their obsession with being crowned world champions has intensified. After their domestic and European seasons crumbled, Madrid turned their focus fully towards retooling for competition, and after bringing in some big names – in the form of both players and managers – Los Blancos have made it clear that they are playing to win.
Getty Images€10m for three games?!
It was football's worst kept secret through the second half of the season that Trent Alexander-Arnold was set to leave Liverpool and join Madrid. However, not even the most hopeful of Reds fan would have believed that they would earn a fee for their impending free agent.
Most assumed that Alexander-Arnold would take a month off before joining Madrid on July 1 at the start of the new football calendar. However, reports surfaced in the days following Alexander-Arnold's confirmation of his Liverpool exit that Los Blancos were keen to negotiate an early release from his contract so as to take advantage of FIFA's pre-Club World Cup transfer window.
Despite that, it still came as something of a surprise when it was confirmed that Madrid had in fact paid up by handing over €10m (£8.5m/$11.5m) to Liverpool for their homegrown right-back. For the Reds, that came as a welcome – and unexpected – boost to their coffers. But for Madrid, it was the first real statement of intent when it came to this summer's tournament.
Alexander-Arnold is an elite talent, and with Dani Carvajal still recovering from the ACL injury he picked up in October, Madrid did not have a fully fit right-back to bring with them to the U.S. They could have waited for Alexander-Arnold to see out the final month of his deal on Merseyside and added him to their squad for the knockout rounds, but Madrid wanted him immediately, and were willing to pay over €3m per potential group-stage appearance to have him from the very start of the competition.
Madrid would surely have got through a group containing Al-Hilal, Red Bull Salzburg and Pachuca without the England international, but Alexander-Arnold will of course make them a more formidable outfit from the jump. His addition should also help new manager Xabi Alonso implement some of his tactical ideas just that little bit earlier. Either way, it sent a signal that Madrid mean business on the pitch this summer.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesSpend, spend, spend
There is no other way to spin it: Madrid's defence was bad last year. They spent most of the season with Raul Asencio and Antonio Rudiger as their only fully fit centre-backs, and even then Rudiger was playing on only one healthy knee and had to undergo surgery before the end of the campaign. Over the course of the season, Carvajal, Eder Militao and David Alaba all sustained long-term injuries while Ferland Mendy could never stay fit for more than a couple of months at a time. Madrid were decimated at the back, and it showed.
And so while Alexander-Arnold is an addition to their defensive ranks, it is the arrival of Dean Huijsen that is expected to help shore up that porous backline. In a span of a year, Huijsen went from unwanted at Juventus to Europe's most-wanted following his debut season at Bournemouth. The lanky Spaniard has already shown himself to be a very good centre-back, and has all of the traits required to become a world-class defender. At just 20, he has plenty of scope, and that's why Liverpool and Chelsea were so keen to add him to their respective squads before Madrid made their move and triggered Huijsen's £50m ($68m) release clause.
He was officially unveiled at Santiago Bernabeu on June 9, where club president Florentino Perez hailed him as "one of the great players to emerge in football in recent years." Huijsen will get his chance to prove as much this summer.
Madrid almost added a third fresh face to Alonso's squad, too, after beating Paris Saint-Germain to the signing of highly-rated River Plate teenager Franco Mastantuono, for whom they are paying €40m (£33m/$45m). Madrid wanted the 17-year-old to join them in the States, but River rejected that approach so as to include Mastantuono on their own Club World Cup roster.
Watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream nowGetty ImagesPlaying through the pain
Perhaps the most revealing move of Madrid's summer when it comes to taking the Club World Cup seriously, though, is the fact that they opted to continue kicking the can that is Jude Bellingham's long-awaited shoulder surgery down the road. The Englansd midfielder first hurt his shoulder in November 2023, when he partially dislocated it against Rayo Vallecano. He missed a handful of games at the time, and it was reported in the Spanish press that he would need an operation. Bellingham, though, played through the pain, and has required heavy strapping on his left shoulder for over a year now.
Bellingham has routinely been advised to undergo surgery, but the business of the club calendar had meant that he hasn't had room to do so. Given the Club World Cup's still debatable status in the global game, this summer felt like the ideal window so that he could be back fit for the start of the 2025-26 campaign and subsequently could start looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup in a pain-free manner.
However, both Madrid and Bellingham have agreed to delay the operation until after the Club World Cup – ensuring that he will be available for the month-long event in America. As a consequence, he will miss the remainder of pre-season, and possibly two months of the new season. It's clearly a risk Madrid are willing to take and highlights where their priorities lie in terms of trophies.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
(C)Getty ImagesModric's swansong
And while one Madrid midfielder waits for a much-needed break, another has joined up with the squad when he would have been forgiven for resting up and preparing for the next chapter in his storied career. When Luka Modric left the Bernabeu pitch teary-eyed in May, it was assumed that he had played his last game for Madrid. It seemed the perfect way to go, waling off the pitch at that great cathedral of football and conclude his brilliant Blancos career on home soil. Apparently not.
While free-agent-to-be Modric is close to securing a move to AC Milan to help fill the gaping hole left by the departure of Tijjani Reijnders to Manchester City, Modric is sticking with Madrid for the Club World Cup. Given that he only played sparingly over the course of the campaign and that his ageing legs might not be able to offer much in the searing American heat, having Modric be part of a squad that Alonso is attempting to mould in his own image feels unnecessary. But zoom out, and it's the kind of move that makes sense for a Madrid who are intent of winning.
Modric brings veteran experience. With Toni Kroos gone and with an otherwise fairly young spine, Alonso could do with someone he trusts in the set up to help implement his initial ideas. He and Modric did, after all, used to be Madrid team-mates, and so having someone he can trust, if only for a few weeks, could prove vital in the long run.