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Laporta Re-Elected As Barcelona President Until 2031

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Joan Laporta has been voted back in as Barcelona president, defeating rival candidate Victor Font to secure another five-year term at the helm of the Catalan club until 2031.
The 63-year-old, who also beat Font in the 2021 election, will officially resume the role in July after stepping down as part of the electoral process. Around 42 per cent of eligible club members cast their vote, totalling 48,480 ballots. Laporta took nearly 69 per cent of the counted votes compared to Font’s 30 per cent, a lead too large to be overturned with the remaining ballots still to be tallied.

Font graciously accepted defeat, congratulating Laporta on his victory.
Several Barcelona first-team players and head coach Hansi Flick made their way to the ballot boxes after the team’s 5-2 win over Sevilla earlier in the day. Former midfielder Sergio Busquets, women’s Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati and club legend Xavi Hernandez were also among those voting. Laporta was in celebratory mood well before the final count, and was seen dancing with players after their emphatic Camp Nou victory.

Laporta previously led the club from 2003 to 2010, a golden era that included a treble under Pep Guardiola in 2009 and Champions League titles in 2006 and 2009. His second spell began with a financial crisis, which he navigated by selling portions of future television rights to fund signings including Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha. Under his stewardship, Barcelona won La Liga in 2023 and 2025 and reached the Champions League semi-finals last season for the first time since 2019.

Laporta drew criticism for his involvement in the failed European Super League project alongside Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, though Barcelona formally withdrew from the initiative earlier this year.

Why Camavinga Could Be The Missing Piece For Liverpool This Summer

Liverpool are expected to be active in the transfer market this summer after a disappointing 2025/26 season, a stark contrast to their title-winning campaign the year before.
With 40 goals already conceded in the Premier League, defensive reinforcements appear to be a priority. But questions have also been raised about the energy and dynamism in midfield, despite having the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominic Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Florian Wirtz at their disposal.

That midfield concern appears to be driving Liverpool’s reported interest in Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga. It is believed a fee of around £43 million could be enough to prise the 23-year-old away from the Bernabeu, with Liverpool said to have been long-term admirers of the French midfielder.

Camavinga’s opportunities at Real Madrid have dwindled significantly in recent seasons. In the current La Liga campaign he has made 20 appearances, but only 12 as a starter. The previous season told a similar story, with just 11 starts from 19 outings. Across the last two league seasons combined, he has played just 2,239 minutes in La Liga, compared to 2,001 minutes in 2022/23 alone. The emergence of Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni and Arda Guler has pushed him down the pecking order, and he has even been deployed at left-back on occasion.

Yet the quality is undeniable. Camavinga’s passing accuracy has sat around 90 per cent throughout his time in Spain, and his ability to control the tempo of a game makes him a valuable asset in any midfield. His disciplinary record has also improved sharply, with just nine yellow cards and one red across all competitions over the past two seasons, a significant improvement on his earlier years at the club.

Physically, he more than holds his own. A duel success rate of 63.2 per cent in the current league season and a tackle success rate of 75 per cent in this season’s Champions League underline his effectiveness in one-on-one situations. Fast, elegant in possession and strong without the ball, Camavinga looks every bit an all-round midfielder still with his best years ahead of him.
Whether Arne Slot remains in charge at Anfield or not, Camavinga looks like exactly the kind of player Liverpool need to recapture their best form.

Courtois Faces Six-Week Spell On Sidelines With Thigh Injury

Real Madrid are sweating over the fitness of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after the Belgian was forced off at half-time during Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester City.
The club confirmed Courtois, 33, has been diagnosed with a muscular injury to his right quadriceps, though no official return date has been given.

However, Spanish sports daily AS reports the injury could keep him sidelined for around six weeks. If that timeline proves accurate, Courtois would miss both legs of Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich on April 7th and April 15th, as well as a significant portion of the La Liga run-in.

Mbappe Ready To Go As He Targets Strong Finish To Season Before World Cup

Kylian Mbappe has declared himself fully fit and is eager to feature in every one of Real Madrid’s remaining games as he sets his sights on arriving at the World Cup in peak condition.
The 27-year-old missed four league matches in 2026 due to a lingering knee problem carried over from last season, but returned from the bench in the 64th minute of Madrid’s 3-2 derby win over Atletico on Sunday.

Mbappe has also been included in France’s squad for friendlies against Brazil on March 26th and Colombia three days later in the United States, the country co-hosting the World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico from June 11th to July 19th.

The French forward says he plans to replicate the form he has shown in previous World Cup build-ups, playing regularly, scoring goals and competing for honours with his club right up until the tournament begins.

France have been drawn in Group I at the World Cup, where they will face Norway, Senegal and the winner of an intercontinental play-off.

Griezmann To Swap Atletico For Orlando City In MLS Move

Antoine Griezmann will bring the curtain down on his Atletico Madrid career at the end of the season, with the French forward set to join MLS side Orlando City on a two-year deal.
The 35-year-old, Atletico’s all-time record goalscorer with 211 goals in 488 appearances, will make the switch to Florida in July. He travelled to Orlando during a break in the club’s schedule, with Atletico’s blessing, to finalise the agreement.

Griezmann will be hoping to end his time at the club on a high. Atletico face Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals next month and meet Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final on April 18th in Seville. A second major trophy at the club, after the 2018 Europa League, would be a fitting farewell for one of their greatest ever players.

The World Cup winner retired from international football in 2024 after earning 137 caps and scoring 44 goals for France. He first joined Atletico from Real Sociedad in 2014, left for Barcelona in 2019, and returned two years later before making the move permanent. This season he has contributed 13 goals in 43 appearances under Diego Simeone.

Orlando City owner Mark Wilf hailed the signing as a statement of the club’s ambitions, describing Griezmann as one of the most gifted and influential players of his generation. Orlando have been part of MLS since 2015 but are yet to win the MLS Cup, and have made a tough start to the 2026 season with four losses from their opening five games.
Griezmann joins a growing list of European stars to have moved to North America, following former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

Klopp Dismisses Real Madrid Links But Leaves Door Open On Return To Management

Jurgen Klopp has moved to shut down speculation linking him with the Real Madrid job, insisting the Spanish club have not been in touch, though the German stopped short of ruling out a return to football management in the future.

The 58-year-old, currently serving as Red Bull’s head of global football, left Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 season after nine hugely successful years at Anfield, which brought Champions League and Premier League titles among other honours.

Real Madrid appointed former defender Alvaro Arbeloa as manager in January, after Xabi Alonso was sacked following seven months in charge amid poor results and reported unrest within the squad.

Speaking at the Magenta TV World Cup team presentation on Monday, Klopp was blunt in his response to the rumours. “If Real Madrid had phoned, we would have heard about it by now,” he said. “But that’s all nonsense. They haven’t called even once, not once. My agent is there, you can ask him. They haven’t called him either.”

However, Klopp did leave the door slightly ajar on a potential return to the dugout at some point down the line. “For my age, I’m quite advanced in life, but as a coach I’m not completely finished. I haven’t reached retirement age. Who knows what will happen in the coming years? But there’s nothing planned.”
Klopp, who previously managed Mainz and Borussia Dortmund before his time at Liverpool, has also made clear he would never take charge of another English club other than the Reds.

Rodri Open To Real Madrid Move As Manchester City Contract Winds Down

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has refused to close the door on a potential move to Real Madrid, admitting a return to Spain would appeal to him as he enters the final year of his contract at the Etihad.

The 29-year-old, a Madrid native, began his career at Villarreal before joining Atletico Madrid in 2018 and moving to City a year later. In England he has won the Champions League once and four Premier League titles, establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in the world.
Speaking to Onda Cero ahead of Spain’s friendly against Serbia, Rodri was candid about his desire to play in Spain again. “Would I like to play in Spain again, in LaLiga, in Madrid? I’d like to return, yes, obviously,” he said.

When asked whether his previous connection to Atletico would prevent him from joining their city rivals Real Madrid, Rodri pointed to others who had made the same switch, including goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and forward Alvaro Morata. “There are other players who have gone down that path, not straight away, but in time. You can’t turn down the best clubs in the world,” he said.

Rodri is still working his way back to full fitness after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in 2024, but his return to form has been eagerly anticipated by club and country alike.
The Spaniard also addressed his relationship with Vinicius Jr, following the controversy surrounding the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony, which Real Madrid boycotted after Rodri won the award ahead of the Brazilian. “I think they wanted to pit Vinicius and me against each other, but not at all,” he said. “I have great respect for him and for everything he did that year too. In the end, it’s other people who decide who wins the Ballon d’Or.”

Rosenior’s Chelsea Future Uncertain Ahead Of Crucial Run Of Fixtures

Chelsea are gearing up for a major summer transfer window, but serious questions remain over whether Liam Rosenior will be the man in charge to oversee it.

The Blues do not play again in the Premier League until April 12th, when they face Manchester City, but that clash kicks off a run of fixtures that could prove decisive for Rosenior’s future at Stamford Bridge.

Publicly, the club insists the head coach is not under pressure. However, sources have indicated that his position will come under serious scrutiny if results do not improve. Chelsea have lost four consecutive matches and have failed to score in the last three, a run that has put Champions League qualification in jeopardy.

The club are not placing the blame squarely on Rosenior’s shoulders, but there is a clear understanding internally that performances must pick up. Chelsea currently sit sixth in the table, and another defeat could see both Brentford and Everton leapfrog them.

Despite signing a six-year contract, Rosenior’s position beyond this season is far from guaranteed if the campaign continues to unravel. Chelsea’s hierarchy want the project to work, but with a substantial investment planned for the summer, they need confidence in the direction the club is heading before committing to another big spend under the current head coach.

A top-level centre-back is among the priorities, with reinforcements also being considered in goal, midfield and attack. There are also indications that Chelsea may target more experienced, high-profile names than in recent windows, pointing to a shift towards a more results-driven approach.

Before any of that, though, Rosenior must fix things on the pitch. An FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale offers a route to silverware, but in the league the schedule is demanding. After Manchester City, Chelsea face Manchester United, a trip to in-form Brighton, a home game against Nottingham Forest and then a visit to Anfield to face Liverpool. If Rosenior cannot turn things around before the final fixtures against Tottenham and Sunderland, his time at the club may well be up.

Manchester United Keeping Tabs On Chelsea Star Palmer

Manchester United’s long-term interest in Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer continues to simmer, with a personal connection adding an extra layer of intrigue to the ongoing speculation.

Palmer knows United sporting director Jason Wilcox from their time together at Manchester City, a relationship that has helped keep the lines of communication open between the two camps. United’s recruitment philosophy centres on players with proven Premier League pedigree, and the prospect of Palmer returning to his home city as part of their rebuild is understood to hold genuine appeal at Old Trafford.

The rumour has gained traction partly due to a difficult season for Palmer at Chelsea. His fitness and conditioning have been inconsistent, and his performances have not always matched the high standards he set in his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge. The club’s managerial change from Enzo Maresca to Liam Rosenior has contributed to an unsettled atmosphere, and Palmer’s body language has at times suggested a player who is not entirely comfortable in his surroundings.

Childhood images of Palmer as a Manchester United fan have resurfaced online, adding fuel to the speculation at a time when United are beginning to map out their next phase of development.

Sources suggest there is a genuine possibility Palmer could one day make the move to Old Trafford, though the timing remains unclear. Chelsea are firm in their stance that he is not for sale, and there is no sign of that changing in the near future.
However, football’s landscape shifts quickly. When Bruno Fernandes eventually moves on, United will need a replacement, and Palmer is expected to be firmly at the top of their list.

Spencer Strider to Begin Season on IL With Oblique Strain

The Atlanta Braves are losing another starting pitcher before the regular season even begins.

Manager Walt Weiss confirmed Monday that Spencer Strider is expected to start the year on the injured list with a left oblique strain. The right-hander felt a slight pull after making a start in a minor league game against the Red Sox on Tuesday, and lingering discomfort led to the decision to scratch him from his scheduled start Monday against the Pirates.

“I think we’ve gotten out in front of this thing to a degree,” Weiss said. “So we’re hoping it’s not going to be a big deal.”
Even a short absence will sting for a Braves team that is already shorthanded in the rotation and faces 13 straight games to open the regular season.

Weiss said Strider was showing enough discomfort that pitching through it risked a more serious setback.
“It’s hard for him to feel it, but it is there when he throws,” Weiss said. “There’s a chance, if he would have went out and made a start today, it would have set him back further.”

Strider is not the only concern. Spencer Schwellenbach entered camp dealing with right elbow discomfort. Hurston Waldrep and Schwellenbach both underwent elbow surgery in February and will not return until late June or early July. Joey Wentz tore his right ACL on March 8.

Reynaldo Lopez also drew attention after his four-seam fastball averaged just 89.4 mph against the Twins on Sunday, a notable drop. Lopez, who made just one regular-season start last year before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, said the velocity dip was due to mechanical issues rather than injury. Weiss said he asked Lopez about his health roughly a dozen times and was told he was fine.

Atlanta’s rotation to open the season will likely include Chris Sale, Lopez, Grant Holmes, Bryce Elder and Jose Suarez. Veteran Martin Perez agreed to stay in the organization despite not earning an Opening Day roster spot and could be pressed into rotation duty sooner than expected given the circumstances.

Weiss acknowledged the challenge ahead but expressed confidence in what the organization has.
“We’ve got a long way to go. There’ll be more punches along the way,” Weiss said. “We’ve got some quality arms in this camp. We pick each other up when necessary.”