Barcelona won against Valencia with Robert Lewandowksi who scored twice in their match. And manager Hansi Flick is happy. Flick later said: “It is very important to start with a victory. We were better in the second half. In the first half we made more mistakes. The goal on the stroke of half-time was very important. In the second half we did better.  “He (Lewandowski) is a great professional. He is an important player. We defend and attack as a team. He has also done a great defensive job. He has scored two goals. He is always in the area. “The preseason was not easy, there were many players with the national teams and the La Masia players did very well. Also today. “We have to improve many things, we are at the beginning of the season. We have to gain confidence. “They are three very important points for us. Today was a great battle, for the stadium, for the fans… it was an intense game. But I think we deserve to get the three points.”

Girona are finalising a deal for Barcelona midfielder Oriol Romeu.  Just a year after he left Girona for Barca, Romeu is set to re-sign with the Catalans.  Barca have announced that Romeu has been released from their US tour squad to finalise the transfer.  Mundo Deportivo reports that he will join Girona on-loan for the new season. His contract with Barca runs to 2026.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said he was happy after the team’s preseason friendly defeat of AC Milan.  Madrid lost 1-0 in Chicago with Samuel Chukwueze the matchwinner for Milan. Carlo said, “We fought and did good things. It’s the first match of the pre-season, there are a lot of young people. The important thing was to compete and we did it throughout the match. “The evaluation is positive. It’s a great chance for young players to play this type of match. In the first half, with more seniors like Rudiger and Modric, we did better, but at the moment these players cannot play more than 45 minutes. “Now let’s get ready for the next game. Tomorrow Vinicius and Militao return and today Rodrygo returns. Let’s see if they can play a part of the match. Those who started on the 15th, like Lucas, Fran, Brahim or Ceballos, are already showing good condition. “Palacios’ change? He has a knee problem and is not well. We have to evaluate him tomorrow and it’s a shame that a young player was injured in the first pre-season match. I hope it’s nothing serious. Brahim? He played well. We made good plays offensively. Arda is also in good shape. “The objective until the 7th is to try to have the players who have already started in the best possible physical condition. At the moment we only do tactical work for the young people, but when they return we will try to work for everyone too. There aren’t many things to do because the team is more or less the same as last year. The strategies are quite clear. We have to adapt to new things, but we will do it little by little. We can’t adapt Mbappé or Endrick in five days.”

An enraged Real Madrid management is ready to sever all ties with super agent Jorge Mendes. According to Okdiario, Real Chiefs are angry after Jorge took Leny Yoro to Manchester United ahead of them this summer.  Real knew Yoro chose Madrid over United and the player had told them that he preferred Madrid.  But Mendes demanded a €10m-a-year personal terms deal for Yoro which turned off Real, alongside Lille’s  €63 valuation. And instead of concluding his final year at LOSC before joining Madrid, Yoro and Mendes accepted Manchester’s proposal. But, it is not only his decision for Yoro that annoyed Real. The agent had also stolen away prodigy Paulo Iago to Sporting CP. Real Madrid offered Iago new contracts to continue schooling inside La Fabrica, but instead Mendes took him to Sporting.  On that note, Madrid directors are now considering ending all business relationships with him and rounding up future discussions with him.

Aston Villa are pushing a bid for Barcelona winger Raphinha. Sport reports Villa plan to sell Moussa Diaby to Al-Ittihad and use the money raised to acquire Raphinha. Aston intends to sell Diaby for a €60m price. Barcelona on the other hand, want €70m to sell Brazil national Raphinha. He has a deal with the Spanish side that runs in the summer of 2027. After selling him, Barca will want to pay the €58m buyout clause in the Athletic Bilbao deal of Nico Williams.

Real Madrid signee Kylian Mbappe is exploring the possibility of owning the club SM Caen. Mbappe, who has left France PSG for Real Madrid, with his appearance anticipated at a sold-out Santiago Bernabeu next week. RMC says he has contacted SM Caen about a takeover. The Normandy-based club’s co-owner Pierre-Antoine Capton, has announced that the club are looking for a new owner. Mbappe is enthusiastic about this opportunity, with reps for his company, he is now in contact with Caption to discuss a purchase. SM Caen currently compete in Ligue 2.

Atletico Madrid wants PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper Walter Benitez. Benitez is on Atletico’s radar as they get ready to send off Horaţiu Moldovan, who has substituted for No 1 Jan Oblak. Fabrizio Romano the transfer expert reports: “EXCL: Atlético Madrid open talks to sign Walter Benítez from PSV as new goalkeeper. “Long term contract on the table as Atléti believe in Benítez for the future. “Talks ongoing.”