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And so Tottenham Hotspur are not there yet. This much we can tell.

Residual problems from the dysfunction of the Ange Postecoglou era were always going to creep into the new campaign, but there’s an undeniable air of frustration as Aston Villa grew into the game on Sunday afternoon and left Spurs’ ground with all the spoils, having fallen behind early in the first half thanks to Rodrigo Bentancur’s strike.

Tottenham have enjoyed a steady start to Thomas Frank’s tenure, but one win from four in the Premier League of late has emphasised the scale of the task.

Creatively, Tottenham weren’t at their sharpest on Sunday, and this played into Villa’s hands as the hosts retreated, pulled deeper as they sought to group and defend their advantage.

They succumbed to the pressure, and questions were asked post-game of Xavi Simons, whose duty as playmaker-in-chief was left unfulfilled against Unai Emery’s side.

Xavi Simons still leaving something to be desired

At the base of midfield, Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur did a fine job of protecting the Tottenham backline, winning between them 19 duels on the afternoon, as per Sofascore.

But Villa finished the match having won 53% of the duels, speaking of issues from other areas of the field.

And there’s no denying Simons struggled. Signed from RB Leipzig for £51m this summer, the diminutive creator has yet to get going in the Premier League, with Villa’s assured build-up and robustness in the challenge reducing Simons to an inconsequential display.

The 22-year-old has arrived in a new environment and is hardly getting the best service at this early stage of his Tottenham career, but neither is he covering himself in glory with impactful performances. Both things can be true.

Frank discussed after the defeat his side’s issues in creating chances, and despite retaining the majority of possession – as is typically the case when Tottenham play at home – there was little of impetus and authority from the talented number ten, and though he dropped deep to contribute more, there has hardly been enough on show throughout these opening months.

In fact, football.london branded the Dutchman with a 5/10 match rating, writing about his work rate and willingness to get stuck in but also acknowledging his lack of attacking flair and impact.

There is anticipation and expectation, however, that Simons will grow into his skin and thrive in the Premier League. However, he’s not the only summer signing who’s struggling to bring it all together so far, with Randal Kolo Muani still to announce himself.

Randal Kolo Muani may be wasted money

From an attacking standpoint, centre-forward remains a problem for Tottenham Hotspur. It’s an age-old problem, for the scale of Harry Kane’s brilliance means that his departure only two years ago very much feels a lifetime ago.

Quite simply, Spurs are not creating anywhere near enough chances, and though they sit sixth in the standings, two points behind second-placed Manchester City, more offensive influence and cohesion is required if Spurs are to finish strongly in the Premier League and challenge for silverware once again.

Kolo Muani certainly has the talent and goalscoring ability to contribute toward that goal, but injuries have limited him to a bit-part role so far.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward arrived in north London on a one-year loan deal on transfer deadline day, arriving with a weight of expectation after reviving his career on loan with Juventus last year, scoring ten goals and providing three assists across 22 matches for the Italians, demonstrating sharp and athletic movements and ranking among the top 7% of Serie A forwards for goals scored per 90, as per FBref.

Once hailed as a “superstar” by German legend Lothar Matthaus, the 26-year-old has what it takes to be a star at Tottenham, but injuries have limited him to just two outings so far this season, and though he only featured briefly against Aston Villa, he did indeed leave much to be desired.

Football.london saw it fit to brand Kolo Muani with a 5/10 match rating in spite of his brief cameo, and that’s because he missed a sitter late on, fluffing his lines during a goalmouth scramble with only moments left on the clock.

It was an “incredible” miss, as former Premier League goalkeeper Rob Green put it, and one which might have served as a springboard for the France international’s career in London, but it wasn’t to be. Moreover, he lost both of his contested ground duels, and will need to be more convincing in the challenge going forward.

Though there’s plenty of time to right the wrongs and nail down a starting spot at number nine this season, Kolo Muani is pitted against thick competition at the front of the ship, and if Dominic Solanke clicks into gear, he might have a tough task ousting the Englishman.

For now, we must reserve judgement on a player who has suffered an injury-hit start to his Tottenham career, and who has a proven pedigree that suggests he could be the man Frank and Spurs are searching for.

But if he doesn’t take the chances that fall his way, especially with Tottenham lacking creativity and the fitness of two linchpins in James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, then it could be a long and difficult campaign for the Les Bleus star.

The new Dele Alli: Frank must unleash Spurs' £97m-rated "game changer"

Ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s clash with Aston Villa on Sunday, Thomas Frank must start his new “game changer” centrally as he’s the new Dele Alli.

By
Ben Gray

Oct 19, 2025

Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany revealed that he remains in regular contact with Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola. The Belgian, who played under Guardiola during his time at City, credited the the Spanish coach with playing a key role in his promising career and said their relationship continues to be strong.

• Kompany's mentorship under guardiola

  Kompany joined Manchester City in 2008 and went on to spend 11 successful years at the club, becoming one of its most iconic captains. During his time in Manchester, he played under several managers, but it was under Guardiola, between 2016 and 2019, that his tactical understanding of the game reached new heights. Kompany made 62 appearances under Guardiola, scoring six goals and providing two assists, while playing a key role in City’s dominant era. Together, they won back-to-back Premier League titles in 2017-18 and 2018-19, along with the FA Cup in 2019.

  Guardiola’s focus on positional play, ball control and tactical flexibility had a strong influence on Kompany. His current coaching style shows that impact, as he uses a similar system based on structured build up play, fluid attacking movements, and disciplined pressing. These principles have shaped the way he manages his teams.

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• AFP
  

  Kompany confirms 'regular contact' with Guardiola

  "Pep played a very important role in my career as a player and my development as a coach," Kompany said at a press conference when asked about his current relationship with the Catalan coach. "He is currently busy getting back to the top of the Premier League, we are in regular contact and get along well."

  After finishing a disappointing third in the Premier League by City’s lofty standards in the 2024-25 season, Guardiola's team are currently second, six points behind league leaders Arsenal. 

• Bayern's resurgence under Kompany

  Bayern's incredible start to the season continues, with the team winning all 16 of their matches across all competitions so far. Their flawless run has caught the attention of many, with Koln coach Lukas Kwasniok declaring Bayern strong contenders for the treble this season. Much of the team’s success has been attributed to Kompany’s distinctive style of play, which emphasises perseverance, sacrifice and collective responsibility. His approach has revitalised several players, most notably star striker Harry Kane and midfielder Konrad Laimer, both of whom have thrived under his leadership.

  Kane has maintained his scoring consistency, while Laimer has earned widespread praise for his tireless work rate and tactical intelligence. Kompany’s man management and commitment to discipline have brought unity and balance to Bayern’s squad. Bayern and France defender Dayot Upamecano has experienced a resurgence under Kompany after struggling for consistency under former coaches Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel. The French centre-back has openly praised Kompany, calling him an example to follow both on and off the pitch.

  In a recent interview, Upamecano said: “We all watched him when we were young; he was a legend for Belgium and Manchester City. He was a very aggressive defender in duels, a leader on the pitch too, a good example for me. He helps me a lot; we do a lot of videos, he talks to me about my positioning. With him, it's always very intense.”

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  Kompany's pursuit of Guardiola's record

  Bayern will travel to face Union Berlin on Saturday as they look to continue their perfect start to the season. A win would see Kompany equal his mentor Guardiola’s record of 10 consecutive victories in his first 10 Bundesliga matches of a campaign, a milestone the former Barcelona boss set during the 2015-16 season. They are already five points clear of nearest challengers RB Leipzig.

  Bayern fans will be eager to see star striker Kane continue his fine form and get on the scoresheet once again against a team sitting 10th in the table and coming off the back of a goalless draw against Freiburg. With Bayern already showing remarkable consistency and confidence under Kompany, another win would further underline their dominance and strengthen their status as favourites for the Bundesliga title.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to take on the New York Yankees in the 2024 World Series and the calendar suggests they get some reinforcements for the pitching staff. Superstar Shohei Ohtani, who spent this season as a designated hitter following his second Tommy John surgery, has reached the point in his recovery timeline where he could theoretically pitch again.

This became a talking point earlier in the season when Ohtani was seen throwing batting practice pitches in August, but the Dodgers insisted back then that the plan was to keep Ohtani off the mound until next year. That plan probably hasn't changed, but the Japanese All-Star is two months further along in his recovery and everything is now on the line, with only four wins standing between Ohtani and his first-ever title. If there was ever a time where the ends justified the means, it's now.

Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson appeared on Thursday's episode of to discuss all things baseball ahead of the Fall Classic and touched upon this topic. The Big Unit was firm in his stance that Ohtani should not return to the mound.

"If I were ownership or management or whatever with the Dodgers I would just let him continue to be the offensive force that he's been for the Dodgers. Then I would go into spring training and see where he's at. Hopefully he can be a big part of the rotation next year," Johnson said.

It's a reasonable take. From an outside view there feels to be far more risk than reward with Ohtani pitching at this stage, even with the World Series within reach. It's not like he won't be affecting the game in other ways.

First pitch for Game 1 of the World Series is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET Friday.

The first trade of the MLB offseason has officially been made: the Atlanta Braves sent outfielder Jorge Soler to the Los Angeles Angels. MLB insider Mike Rodriguez and Fansided's Robert Murray had it first.

It had been just over 12 hours since the 2024 MLB season ended as the Los Angeles Dodgers captured the World Series title over the New York Yankees on Wednesday night in Game 5.

The Angels will mark Soler's sixth MLB team of his career. He started the 2024 season with the San Francisco Giants after signing a three-year deal with the team. However, on July 29, the Giants traded Soler to the Braves, where he played for a second time in his career. He previously played for the Braves in 2021 when they won the World Series and he was named the World Series MVP.

In 142 games this season with the Giants and the Braves, Soler accumulated batting splits of .241/.338/.442. He totaled 119 hits, 84 runs, 64 RBIs and 21 home runs.

Xabi Alonso has admitted that Trent Alexander-Arnold is ready to start for Real Madrid this weekend. The England international has endured a testing start to life in Madrid following his high-profile move to the capital from Liverpool, with injuries restricting the 27-year-old to just two league starts. However, the defender is fit to feature from the off against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  TAA returned to Anfield on Tuesday

  Real Madrid have the chance to go eight points clear of rivals Barcelona on Sunday, the defending champions not in action until later on Sunday night when they face Celta Vigo. have made a flying start to life under Xabi Alonso winning 10 of 11 league matches, including their El Clasico triumph last month.  

  Goals from Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham saw Real Madrid claim a 2-1 win over Barcelona in a heated encounter at the Bernabeu. Alexander-Arnold was fit enough for the bench in the narrow victory over the and only recently returned to action in the Champions League in midweek.

  The right-back played the final knockings of the game at Anfield as Alexander-Arnold made a late cameo on his former stomping ground. The former Liverpool man departed the Reds under a cloud, and was resoundingly booed by the home support when he went to warm up and once he replaced Arda Guler in the 82nd minute.

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• 'He's been training for a few weeks'

  And Alonso has confirmed that Alexander-Arnold is fit to feature from the off against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday afternoon. Were the Spaniard to use the summer signing from the outset, it would mark Alexander-Arnold's third league start of the season and his first since suffering a hamstring injury against Marseille in September.

  Alexander-Arnold was forced off after just five minutes in the eventual 2-1 win over the French giants, with Dani Carvajal – who is now injured – and Federico Valverde both deputising at right-back in the former's absence.

  And when asked whether the ex-Reds man is ready to start on Sunday, Alonso replied: "Yes, [Trent] is ready, he's been training for a few weeks.  

  "Tomorrow you'll know if he starts or not. In the circumstances, [Valverde] has played there and done well. He's always ready to help the team. It's an option we have."

• AFP
  

  Real Madrid looking to move on from another big loss

  Real Madrid's defeat to Liverpool in midweek marked their third high-profile loss under Alonso, who succeeded Carlo Ancelotti in the capital over the summer. The Spanish giants were thumped 4-0 by PSG at the Club World Cup earlier this year, while their sole league defeat was a 5-2 mauling at rivals Atletico. 

  Alexis Mac Allister's winning goal on the hour mark proved to be the difference between the two sides at Anfield. And when asked about the stats that showed Real Madrid covered less ground than Liverpool on Merseyside, Alonso replied: "You have to put it in context. We've had all kinds of games. You have to look at how the game went; you can't make a definitive judgement on just one game. We've analysed the game, we've talked about it, and now it's about Vallecas.

  "We want to be consistent in our performance. But we know not every game is the same. I have no complaints about my players' attitude."

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• Alonso responds to Bale's comments

  Alonso also took the chance in his pre-Rayo Vallecano press conference to respond to comments made by former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale on Tuesday night. Bale, working as a pundit, said that being Real Madrid coach involves "managing egos rather than just tactics".

  The 43-year-old said of Bale's comments: "It's a dressing room with great players. We've started a new project, I'm very happy, and we're making progress."   

  Real Madrid will hope to claim all the spoils at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday as they look to take another step towards a 37th La Liga title. That'll prove to be easier said than done, however.

  The Spanish giants have failed to win their last three games at Rayo, and have drawn their last two trips across the capital. Valverde, Bellingham and Rodrygo all scored in this fixture last season, an entertaining 3-3 draw last December.

With their striker troubles not going away anytime soon, Everton are now reportedly serious about making a January move to sign a big-money star in January.

Moyes has say on Beto after Man City miss

It was far from a disastrous summer for The Friedkin Group. In fact, it was actually fairly positive. They signed Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Tyler Dibling among others in an impressive spending spree. Yet, one problem persists. Everton need a consistent, clinical striker.

The Toffees thought they got that in Thierno Barry in the summer, but the former Villarreal man is yet to make his mark and may need at least a season to find his feet in English football. As a result, David Moyes has been forced to turn towards Beto, who has scored just one Premier League goal in eight appearances so far this season.

The towering forward struggled once again last weekend as Everton were made to pay for not taking their chances by a clinical Man City and Erling Haaland. As the best striker in the world dominated at one end, Beto failed to impress at the other in a glaring contrast.

It’s something that Everton must look to solve when January arrives and Moyes will know that more than most.

The experienced manager had his say on Beto’s missed chances against Man City, saying: “I think the one he doesn’t get to, he should get to. The one that was given offside was onside, I think, and ultimately we get a VAR decision if it goes in. The first chance – we’re studs away from getting a goal.”

Not Keane: Moyes can fix Branthwaite blow by unleashing Everton "revelation"

Everton’s star centre-back has suffered a complication in his injury recovery.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 21, 2025

It seems as though Friedkin are also aware of the Toffees’ striker troubles, with those at the Hill Dickinson now reportedly serious about signing a big-money star.

Everton now serious about Ivan Toney move

According to Football Insider, Everton are now seriously interested in signing Ivan Toney in the January transfer window. The Al-Ahli forward reportedly believes that a return to the Premier League is his best chance to earn a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup and particularly wants to work under Moyes.

Toney’s camp reportedly favour a move to Merseyside rather than West Ham United, handing Everton a major advantage ahead of the winter window. The deal, even if on loan, is unlikely to come cheap, however.

The 29-year-old earns a staggering £22m-a-year in the Saudi Pro League, which would instantly make him Everton’s highest earner by more than £10m. It simply looks like an impossible deal unless Al-Ahli pay a percentage of the forward’s wages in a loan deal or Toney takes a pay-cut in a permanent switch.

Hailed as “intelligent” by former manager Thomas Frank, Toney is the type of player who could solve Everton’s striker problem. Whether they can find a way past his big-money salary is another question entirely, though. If the forward wants a World Cup place then he may have to compromise in January.

Shohei Ohtani won his third MVP award in the past four seasons on Thursday, having been unanimously voted the winner in the National League after a prolific first year with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Remarkably, all three of Ohtani's MVP wins have come unanimously, a truly incredible achievement. In fact, throughout all four major men's North American sports leagues––MLB, NFL, NHL and NBA––no other player has ever won more than one unanimous MVP, according to Opta Stats.

In MLB history, there have been 21 players who were voted MVP unanimously. None have done it more than once.

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry (2015-16) is the only ever NBA MVP receive every single first-place vote, while Shaquille O'Neal (1999-2000) and LeBron James (2012-13) were both one vote shy of doing so.

In the NFL, the only two players to ever unanimously win MVP were Tom Brady (2010) and Lamar Jackson (2019). As for the NHL, Wayne Gretzky and Connor McDavid are the lone players in the league's history to win the award in such fashion.

Considering some of the all-time greats who only ever once won MVP unanimously, the fact that Ohtani has achieved it three times in the last four years alone is a sheer testament to his brilliance. And at 29 years old, he has plenty of time to tack on even more unanimous victories to his resume, especially given he'll be returning to the pitcher's mound in 2025.

Despite some negative noise regarding attacking regressions, Tottenham Hotspur have made headway under Thomas Frank’s management, fifth in the Premier League and in a promising position in the Champions League group stage.

But Spurs could certainly do with a bit more fluency and impetus when on the charge, and such creases must be ironed out over the coming months to make this a season to remember.

It was always going to be difficult, selling Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in 2023, and Ange Postecoglou deserves credit for establishing an attractive, entertaining playing style (when things were going his way).

But it’s true that some members of the squad aren’t quite pulling their weight. That said, Tottenham do have some top talents who have the capacity to secure the club’s place at Europe’s elite table and lead Frank toward trophy-winning success.

Mohammed Kudus being chief among them.

Kudus' start to life at Spurs

There was an air of controversy about Kudus’ summer transfer to Tottenham. After all, the Ghanaian winger had plied his trade down the road at West Ham United for the past couple of years, and the sale has left the Irons fanbase feeling hot under the collar.

But West Ham’s loss is Tottenham’s gain, with the 25-year-old having registered five assists in the Premier League this season, more than any other player.

His pace and potency have seen him add a dimension to Frank’s outfit that Tottenham simply didn’t boast last term, and in this, he is offering shades of Kane, taking on the responsibility of leading the club forward, bringing a unique flavour to the table.

Kudus is indeed emerging as Tottenham’s new principal source of attacking inspiration, but there’s actually another member of Frank’s squad who’s looking somewhat Kane-esque.

Spurs' new version of Kane

We’re not talking about one of the Tottenham forwards here. Instead, it’s Micky van de Ven whose growth into a talismanic role down N17 is leaving him in line to take Kane’s leadership berth, belatedly.

The 24-year-old has been a revelation since joining from Wolfsburg for around £43m in 2023, with injuries his biggest weakness. So strong and fast and commanding, with journalist Sonny Snelling even labelling him as “world-class”.

It was the 6 foot 4 star’s injury that derailed the Ange hype train a few years ago, sending that project into a spin. Then, last season, hamstring injuries reigned supreme over the defender’s hopes of availability. He started only 12 Premier League fixtures all season, eight of which came across Spurs’ first nine fixtures of the campaign.

While Cristian Romero is Tottenham’s captain, Van de Ven is the perfect counterpoint and every bit as impressive. It’s perhaps important to remember that, like Kane, Van de Ven is not the skipper, with the Three Lions striker behind Hugo Lloris in that regard.

Of course, Kane and Micky van de Ven are hardly similar players. They are so different across physical and tactical bases as to be diametrically opposed.

But Van de Ven offers so much more than his central defensive role demands, and in this, he shares a likeness with Kane, whose range of passing and ability to drop deep and influence make him a very unique number nine, and with 23 goals from 17 games for Bayern this season, he’s still rather good at his primary job.

Tottenham have struggled to replace Kane since selling him to Bayern, but that’s more because of the 32-year-old’s remarkable, unique qualities. When he left, the Lilywhites didn’t only lose their record goalscorer, but their shrewdest playmaker and source of inspiration across so many years.

But his pace. Such speed. It’s astonishing, in many ways, and hard to define. In the Premier League this season, furthermore, Van de Ven has completed 92% of his passes and come out on top in 63% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

It tells much of the Dutchman’s athleticism that he is first, fourth, and fifth on the all-time speed rankings (beginning 2020/21), and is a further illustration of the above-and-beyond approach he brings to his centre-half role.

As per FBref, he also ranks among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90, emphasising an attacking threat that has been on full show this season, six goals from 16 matches in all competitions.

This is a top-class player, and one whose special skills will inevitably see a wave of interest in his signature before long, Europe’s heavyweights squabbling over his signature.

It is perhaps a given that Van de Ven will eventually move on. The lure of Real Madrid and Barcelona, outfits bound to have earmarked the Netherlands international among a list of loose long-term targets, may ultimately prove too much for him to ignore.

This could see him shape into the next version of Kane in more ways than one. But, whatever happens down the line, Van de Ven is a unique player who Tottenham must keep a grip on for as long as they can, for he will spearhead the Frank era toward a surface only scratched when Postecoglou defied the odds and lifted the Europa League title last season, Van de Ven playing that final and thriving.

Spurs have signed a "hidden gem" who's a bigger talent than Troy Parrott

Tottenham need to do more in the final third under Thomas Frank’s management.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 17, 2025

Florentino Perez has moved to reshape Real Madrid’s financial future, preparing to sell a 10% stake through a newly created commercial company after already securing €360 million from Bernabeu-related profits. The president outlined the plan to club members, insisting it will “protect us as an institution” and allow Madrid to raise funds without becoming a public limited sports company.

• Perez prepares second ‘lever’ to raise €500m-€1bn

  According to , Madrid president Perez has initiated one of the massive corporate changes in club’s modern history, laying out plans to sell approximately 10% of a newly formed commercial entity in order to generate fresh investment. The move follows the club’s earlier deal in which they sold 20% of future Santiago Bernabeu profits to Sixth Street and Legends for €360 million (£317m/$417m), a financial manoeuvre widely framed as Madrid’s first “lever”.

  Perez detailed the new proposal to Real Madrid’s members, stressing the need to modernise the club’s organisational structure while maintaining the traditional member-owned model. As he told members directly: "Our club must have an organisational structure that protects us as an institution and also protects all of us as owners of Real Madrid. To this end, I confirm that we will bring to this Assembly a proposal for the club's corporate reorganisation that secures our future, protects us from the threats we face, and, above all, guarantees that the members are true owners of our club and its financial assets.”

  Those words underline the president’s attempt to balance the necessity of new investment with the fiercely guarded identity of the club as a non-SAD (Sociedad Anonima Deportiva, a special type of public limited company related to sports) sporting entity. Perez has long admired versions of Germany’s 50+1 structure, but Spanish law presents stiff barriers to adopting that model. With no legal path to transform Real Madrid into a Bayern Munich-style hybrid, the club is instead exploring a framework of subsidiaries that would enable investment without relinquishing sporting control.

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• Perez leans on advisors

  Los Blancos' financial advisors, including Anas Laghrari, Key Capital Partners and Clifford Chance, have reportedly pushed towards a strategy that mirrors what Madrid previously set up with Real Madrid Estadio SL in 2021, the company that currently manages several stadium-related operations. Perez is now expected to replicate this model through the creation of an instrumental commercial entity that investors can buy into, without any influence over the club’s governing bodies.

  This approach protects Real Madrid from ever becoming a public limited sports company, a transformation that would dilute the members’ historic power. Instead of a direct sale of the club, shareholders would be purchasing equity in a business that manages commercial activities such as sponsorships, stadium operations, events and marketing rights. The sporting side, first team, academy, coaching structure, sporting decisions, would remain 100% owned by the members.

  Perez’s insistence on the club’s member-driven identity was underlined again in his internal assembly message. With expenses on the revamped Bernabeu now reaching €1.347 billion, up from the original €575m plan, the club requires a new injection of liquidity simply to stabilise its financial trajectory, as per the report.

• Rising stadium debt pushes Madrid toward controlled investment

  Madrid’s financial situation has become more demanding with each construction revision. As of June 30, 2025, the outstanding loan debt for the stadium stood at €1.132bn. Inflation, the war in Ukraine, the retractable pitch (€225m) and improved acoustic systems for concerts have all contributed to the ballooning cost, which now totals €1.347bn. Despite the immense commercial potential of the modernised Bernabeu, the short-term strain is massive.

  This new model also mirrors, in a more controlled way, the “levers” used by Barcelona to avoid bankruptcy. Barca created entities such as Barca Studios, Barca Licensing Merchandising, and the Barca Innovation Hub. Perez will follow a similar path but with stronger safeguards, any shares created in the new company will be distributed automatically and free of charge to existing club members, functioning more as membership rights than tradeable financial instruments.

  Crucially, the commercial company created under this model is expected to stay fully majority-owned by Real Madrid, ensuring that members remain the ultimate decision-makers.

  Reports earlier also indicate that the club is also studying a partial demerger between its sporting and commercial operations, an approach that could serve as a precursor to a more structured hybrid governance model. Investors would hold minority stakes in the commercial arm, but the sporting entity would remain untouched, safeguarding the philosophy Perez has championed for over two decades.

  This structure is intended not only to raise capital but also to protect Real Madrid from political, legal, or market-driven vulnerabilities in the future.

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  Legal checks & long-term investment roadmap

  The immediate next step is the extraordinary assembly, where socios will vote on Perez’s restructuring proposal. Advisors are currently preparing the legal and tax framework to ensure compliance with Spanish sports law, which requires that all commercial income be reinvested for sporting use and prohibits the distribution of profits.

  If approved, Bernebeu will establish the new subsidiary, define which commercial assets it controls, and begin negotiations with investors already expressing willingness to inject capital. The club is expected to prioritise strategic partners with long-term interest in global sports ventures, rather than short-term financial firms.

  In the wider picture, this move represents Madrid’s attempt to future-proof its financial model as football’s economic landscape becomes increasingly dominated by state-backed clubs and global investment groups.

Tyler Glasnow is injured again.

The Los Angeles Dodgers righty left his start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday after just one inning after suffering a shoulder injury. While warming up before the second inning, Glasnow summoned the team's trainers to the mound and eventually left the game.

Video of his last warmup pitch is below.

The Dodgers deemed the issue "right shoulder discomfort."

Glasnow has a lengthy injury history, so this doesn't come as much of a surprise. He has dealt with back issues, a serious oblique injury, a forearm strain, multiple elbow problems plus Tommy John surgery in 2021. The 31-year-old was shut down in August of 2024 due to a strained elbow and missed the rest of the season.

In his 10 big league seasons, Glasnow has thrown more than 100 innings twice. He went 120 innings for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023, and his all-time max was the 134 innings he threw for the Dodgers last season. He has never made more than 22 starts in a single campaign.

Glasnow has ace-level stuff but he's one of MLB's least durable pitchers. He's in the first season of a five-year, $136.6 million contract. It hasn't begun well. So far this season, he's 1–0 with a 4.50 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP and 23 strikeouts against 11 walks in 18 innings.

Now he might be headed to the IL.