Atletico Madrid are planning a summer swoop for Arsenal’s Thomas Partey as well as Tottenham pair Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur, according to reports in Spain. Marca claims Partey is “the great desire” of the Spanish giants, who are keen to bring the Ghanaian back to the club once his Arsenal contract expires. The 31-year-old spent five years in Madrid before moving to the Premier League in 2020. Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain  are also monitoring the midfielder, but Atletico are considered favourites due to his history with the club. Former Atletico sporting director Andrea Berta, now at Arsenal, will oversee contract negotiations, and could be key to any decision Partey makes. When asked about Partey’s future last week, Mikel Arteta remained coy: “Yes, there is progress with all the players,” he said, leaving further discussion to Berta and the club. Should Berta commit to a new deal at the Emirates, Atletico are expected to turn their attention to Spurs stars Romero and Bentancur, both of whom are reportedly open to new challenges at the end of the season.

Spanish football fans are in for a treat as eternal rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona clash in a blockbuster Copa del Rey final, the 260th edition of El Clasico. The two giants have already met twice this season, with Barcelona winning both encounters in style: 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup and 4-0 in La Liga. This will be the 39th time they face off in the Copa del Rey, adding another chapter to the most-played fixture in Spanish football history. The stakes are high, with both sides also set to meet in La Liga just two weeks after the final. Barca are chasing their first Copa del Rey triumph since 2021, while Real Madrid aim to add more domestic silverware to their growing collection.

Napoli manager Antonio Conte has called on his players to savour the moment after a 2-0 win over Torino sent them three points clear at the top of Serie A and sealed a return to the UEFA Champions League. Scott McTominay’s  first-half brace fired Napoli to victory at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, capitalising on Inter Milan’s surprise home loss to Roma to take pole position in the title race. “It’s not the first time we’re in the lead, we’ve been in front more than anyone,” Conte said post-match. “But with fewer games left, every mistake becomes costly. We’ve secured Champions League football, a crucial financial objective for the club, and we should enjoy that, at least a little.” After missing out on European football entirely last season following a 10th-place finish, Napoli are now firmly in control with four games remaining, all against bottom-half sides: Lecce, Genoa, Parma, and Cagliari. Conte praised his squad’s mentality amid growing pressure, revealing he chose not to mention Inter’s result before the match: “I didn’t watch their game. I suffer enough during ours. I let the players focus only on their task.” The Italian coach also addressed concerns over injuries to Frank Anguissa and Alessandro Buongiorno: “Anguissa took a knock to the pelvis, it’s too early to say more. Buongiorno had an issue with the tendon near the pubic bone. We’ll know more in 24 to 48 hours.” Despite the injuries, Conte remained defiant: “We’re used to dealing with emergencies. We’ll continue without problems.” With momentum on their side, Napoli are now just four wins away from reclaiming the Scudetto they last won in 2023.

Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly agreed to become the next head coach of the Brazilian national team, according to multiple Spanish media outlets. The Real Madrid boss is expected to step down at the end of the current season. Following Madrid’s recent quarter-final Champions League exit and their Copa del Rey defeat to Barcelona, pressure has mounted on the veteran Italian. He even hinted at a potential departure by saying his future was “a topic for the next weeks” after the Clasico loss. Reports suggest Ancelotti will take charge of Brazil ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June. Brazil have been in search of a new direction since sacking Dorival Junior in March after a humbling 4-1 loss to rivals Argentina. Currently fourth in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings, the Selecao are in a transitional period. The 64-year-old is one of the most decorated managers in the game, having won the Champions League three times with Madrid, including La Decima in his first stint, and league titles in four different countries. His strong relationship with Brazilian stars Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, key figures at Real Madrid, may have helped pave the way for this high-profile move. If confirmed, Ancelotti would become the first non-Brazilian to coach the national team since 1965, marking a significant cultural shift for the five-time world champions.

Eric Dier is close to completing a move to AS Monaco, according to L’Équipe and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The 31-year-old is expected to sign a contract until 2027, with an option for extension. Dier’s current deal with Bayern Munich  expires this summer, after initially joining on loan from Tottenham in January 2024 before making the move permanent. Dier has been a key figure in Bayern’s defence this season, stepping up amid a string of injuries. He has made 25 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice and providing one assist. His departure won’t leave Bayern short at the back. Dayot Upamecano , Hiroki Ito, and young talent Tarek Buchmann are all set to return from injury. Josip Stanisic and Min-jae Kim also remain available, unless Kim is sold in the summer.

Leeds United moved within touching distance of the Championship title after a dominant 4-0 win over Bristol City. Fresh off a 6-0 thrashing of Stoke City, Daniel Farke’s men delivered yet another statement of total domination. They fired 23 shots while allowing just one from the visitors, and that came in stoppage time. Leeds will be crowned champions with a win at Plymouth on Saturday, unless Burnley can somehow overturn a 14-goal deficit. The home crowd was in full voice from the start. Leeds controlled possession early, and the opening goal felt inevitable. Ao Tanaka pounced on a loose ball after a corner and calmly finished to give Leeds the lead. Bristol City hung on until halftime, thanks in large part to keeper Max O’Leary, who pulled off a stunning triple save early in the second half. But Leeds soon found a second. Joel Piroe  sent a brilliant cross-field ball to Wilfried Gnonto, who raced through and slotted home with ease. It was another ruthless performance from a team that looks ready for promotion.

Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger has issued a public apology after being sent off for throwing an object at the referee. The incident occurred during their 3-2 Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona in extra time. It happened after a controversial foul was called against Kylian Mbappe, moments before Barcelona’s Jules Kounde  netted the decisive goal in the 116th minute. Rüdiger, already substituted, reacted furiously from the bench. He had to be restrained as he attempted to throw ice bags at the referee, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea. “There’s definitely no excuse for my behaviour,” Rüdiger posted on social media. “Sorry again to the referee and to everyone I have disappointed last night.” Teammates Lucas Vázquez and Jude Bellingham also saw red after the final whistle. Rüdiger now faces a potential suspension of 4–12 matches across all domestic competitions under Spanish FA regulations.

On June 15, 2024, Brighton & Hove Albion made a bold move by appointing 31-year-old Fabian Hürzeler as their new head coach, following the departure of Roberto De Zerbi. While Hurzeler had impressed in Germany by guiding St Pauli back to the Bundesliga after 13 years, he was largely unknown in English football. His appointment made him the youngest manager in Premier League history. With no top-flight experience and arriving just after a major success in Germany, his move to Brighton drew immediate attention ahead of the 2024/25 season.