Xabi Alonso Agrees 3-Year Deal To Replace Carlo Ancelotti At Real Madrid

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4 weeks ago

May 12, 2025

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Xabi Alonso Agrees 3-Year Deal To Replace Carlo Ancelotti At Real Madrid—-Real Madrid have reached a full agreement with Xabi Alonso to become the club’s next head coach, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

The Spanish tactician, currently managing Bayer Leverkusen, has sealed a three-year contract with Los Blancos that will run until 2028.

His appointment signals the end of Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure and the beginning of a new era under the former midfielder.

Romano announced the news on Monday via X, stating, “Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, here we go! Story confirmed and deal sealed for Xabi as new manager until 2028.”

The deal includes a fully sorted backroom staff and preparations for Alonso to begin his tenure during the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, where Real Madrid are expected to feature as Champions League winners.

“Staff sorted, contract in place and three year deal for Alonso with Real planning for him to start at FIFA Club World Cup,” Romano added.

The Italian, who has led the club to multiple major trophies during his time in charge, is set to depart gracefully before Alonso steps in.

Romano concluded, “Ancelotti farewell soon, then Xabi era.”

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JUST IN: Brighton & Hove Albion Offers €40million To Olympiacos For Charalampos Kostoulas

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17 hours ago

June 9, 2025

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JUST IN: Brighton & Hove Albion Offers €40million To Olympiacos For Charalampos Kostoulas—-Brighton are in ongoing negotiations with the Greek Super League club after The Athletic revealed on May 16 that they had submitted an offer of around £30m plus Abdallah Sima for the 18-year-old, who is regarded as one of the hottest young talents in Europe.

Olympiacos rejected the proposal involving Sima, 23, who has been loaned out by Brighton to French sides Brest and Angers, as well as Glasgow Rangers and Stoke City, since joining from Slavia Prague in 2021. The Greek side want a sell-on included in any deal.

Kostoulas helped Olympiacos to win the youth version of the Champions League in 2023-24 with five goals in eight appearances. He featured regularly for the first team in the Greek Super League and in the Europa League this season, with seven goals and two assists in 30 appearances combined across the two competitions.

Brighton are unlikely to be as active in this summer window as they were last year, yet there is still plenty to look out for…

Kostoulas was ruled out towards the end of the season by a muscle injury as Olympiacos won their domestic title. That success has gained Olympiacos entry to the league phase of the 2025-26 Champions League as the club with the best coefficient of domestic champions of national associations ranked 11 to 55 by UEFA, based on performances in European competitions over the past five years. Kostoulas has also scored five goals in 15 appearances representing Greece in age groups from under-16 to under-21.

Brighton have already signed a teenage striker from Greece for next season. Stefanos Tzimas, 19, was bought at the end of the January window for a fee in excess of £20m and loaned back to Nurnberg in Germany’s second tier for the rest of the campaign.

The pool of central strikers Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler will have at his disposal in 2025-26 is in a state of flux. The German relied heavily on 34-year-old Danny Welbeck in the latter stages of his first season in charge, with Joao Pedro left out of the final two matches in May for disciplinary reasons, Evan Ferguson loaned out to West Ham, Julio Enciso on loan to Ipswich and Georginio Rutter injured.

Joao Pedro’s future is uncertain after The Athletic revealed the Brazilian’s omission from the squad by Hurzeler following an altercation in training with team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke. Welbeck, Joao Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma were the club’s joint top scorers in the Premier League on ten goals as Brighton finished eighth, missing out on qualifying for Europe.

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JUST IN: Manchester City Strike €40m Deal To Sign Rayan Cherki From Lyon

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17 hours ago

June 9, 2025

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JUST IN: Manchester City Strike €40m Deal To Sign Rayan Cherki From Lyon—-Manchester City have agreed a deal with Olympique Lyonnais to sign French playmaker Rayan Cherki, with a five-year contract set to be completed in the coming hours.

The two clubs reached an agreement on Monday morning after City improved their initial offer. While the final fee has not been disclosed, it is understood to be in the region of €40 million (£33.7 million).

Cherki is expected to fly out shortly to join City’s squad for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, which begins next week.

The 21-year-old has agreed personal terms and will remain under contract at the Etihad Stadium until 2030.

City begin their tournament against Wydad Casablanca on June 18 before further fixtures against Al Ain and Juventus in the group stage.

Cherki, who came through Lyon’s academy and made his first-team debut at 16, has long been viewed as one of France’s brightest talents.

He made 185 appearances for Lyon in all competitions and delivered a career-best campaign in 2024-25, registering 12 goals and 20 assists.

That included goals in both legs of Lyon’s Europa League semi-final against Manchester United, and a place in the competition’s Team of the Season.

His form also earned him a first senior call-up for France during the UEFA Nations League finals this month. He made his debut off the bench in a semi-final defeat to Spain before starting and scoring in a third-place win over Germany.

Cherki’s creativity and versatility have been key to his rise. Naturally two-footed, he is capable of playing across attacking midfield positions and both flanks.

While less structured than Pep Guardiola’s usual midfield options, Cherki’s flair, vision and dribbling ability offer a different dimension.

Lyon were initially reluctant to sell, but financial pressures forced their hand. The club had been issued a provisional relegation and transfer ban in November due to financial concerns.

Club owner John Textor had previously insisted Cherki would not be sold, but mounting debt and an impending financial audit by French football’s governing body meant Lyon accepted City’s improved bid.

Cherki is now poised to begin the next chapter of his career in Manchester and could make his debut before the end of the month.

The move brings a long-running transfer saga to an end and adds another talented creative force to Guardiola’s evolving squad.

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