Barca's Rodri apologises over Valencia 'weak' comments

Rodri joined Barcelona this summer in a £65m move from Manchester City

Barcelona midfielder Rodri says he has apologised to the entire Valencia squad after television cameras appeared to catch him describing the La Liga strugglers as “very weak”.

Rodri reportedly made the comment to Barcelona team-mates Pau Cubarsi and Raphinha while sitting on the bench after being substituted during his side’s 5-0 league win against Valencia on Sunday.

The result at Mestella Stadium left Valencia bottom of the table with no wins in their first four matches.

Though the footage has no audio, broadcaster Movistar claimed they lip-read the 30-year-old former Manchester City player saying: “They’re really weak. They haven’t got past the halfway line.”

Fans and sections of the Spanish media accused Rodri, who won the golden ball as Spain won the 2026 World Cup, of being disrespectful.

“I apologised to my friend and colleague Jose Gaya [Spain defender and Valencia captain] and to the entire squad as well,” Rodri said after Barcelona’s 5-1 win against Feyenoord in the Champions League on Wednesday.

“I also want to make it clear that it was simply an expression of surprise - anyone watching the video can see that.”

“At no point did I intend to mock anyone or take a difficult moment for a team out of context. Quite the opposite - we all want Valencia to return to where it belongs in the league, it is one of the best clubs in the competition. I simply wanted to say that.”

“I would also add that it was a private conversation; I think we should all learn a bit more from this, as things really do get taken out of context sometimes. But at no point did I mean any disrespect. My apologies to Valencia.”

Gordon a better fit for Barca than Rashford - Deco

After signing for Barcelona, Anthony Gordon called them “the biggest club on the planet” and said he had dreamed about playing for them as a child.

Barcelona sporting director Deco says Anthony Gordon’s style was a better fit for Hansi Flick’s side than Marcus Rashford’s as the club strengthened their squad this summer.

Rashford scored 14 goals in all competitions while on loan at Barcelona last season, who won La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

Barcelona had the option of signing the Manchester United forward on a permanent basis this summer for £30.3m (35m euros) at the end of his 12-month loan.

However, the Spanish giants decided to not extend the 28-year-old’s contract and he returned to Old Trafford.

Rashford’s England team-mate Gordon and Manchester City midfielder Rodri were Barcelona’s two most expensive signings during the summer transfer window, and Deco says both arrivals addressed important weaknesses in the squad.

Gordon joined the Catalan club from Newcastle United in a deal worth more than 80m euros (£69.3m), saying he had believed he would play for Barcelona since he was “three years of age”.

Speaking to Catalan radio station RAC1 on Thursday, Deco praised Rashford for his contribution last season but explained why Barcelona ultimately preferred Gordon.

“We are extremely grateful to Rashford,” Deco said.

“He contributed a lot last season, but our idea of play is much more linked to Anthony’s. His style fits with what the coach is looking for.”

Deco said Barcelona had identified a lack of energy when Raphinha was unavailable last season and believed Gordon could address the problem.

“In the case of Gordon, we saw that he was one of the figures we needed,” he said.

“When Raphinha wasn’t on the pitch, the team lost energy and with him we could solve it. The big advantage we had is that the player wanted to come and he was able to put on pressure [at Newcastle to be allowed to leave].”

Deco added that Barcelona had analysed a number of wingers before deciding on Gordon.

“We had a clear idea what we’re looking for,” he said.

“We needed more intensity. We analysed a lot of wingers. Signing someone from the Premier League is almost impossible, but [Flick] was clear with what he wanted and we worked on a deal from there.”

Gordon has made five appearances for Barcelona and has made four assists.

The club have won all four of their La Liga games, scoring 17 goals and conceding just two.

Spurs should be awarded 2016-17 title - Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino believes Chelsea should be stripped of the Premier League title for 2016-17, when his Tottenham team finished runners-up.

Chelsea were fined £10.75m in March after being charged by the Premier League for historical breaches of competition rules.

The club also had a six-point deduction “set aside” on appeal. Antonio Conte’s Chelsea team finished seven points clear of Pochettino’s Spurs in 2016-17.

Chelsea owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital self-reported 74 breaches of Football Association rules when they purchased the club in 2022.

The Blues admitted making £47m in secret payments to unregistered agents and third-parties over transfers between 2011 and 2018.

Pochettino, who managed Spurs from 2014 to 2019, said: “We should win one title, one Premier League. We should have been awarded it.

“[Chelsea] were punished, they admitted, so that’s it? The title should be for the team that was second.

“It’s true that we didn’t compete with the same rules. It’s completely fair to say that we didn’t compete before the start of the season with the same card.”

The current USA coach led Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final during his five years in charge of Spurs.

They did not win a trophy during his time there, with his best Premier League finish being that second place to Chelsea in 2017.

“Maybe with the same rules, if we apply the same things, maybe we could’ve signed some players that would have made the team better or scored more goals,” added the Argentine, who later became Chelsea boss for the 2023-24 season.

“It’s not me complaining - it’s the truth. If they admitted they broke the rules, the Premier League title was for the second-best team.

“I’m not scared to say the truth. The Chelsea fans will be upset with me because I’m saying this, but if we were at Tottenham and broke the rules I’d admit the same.”

After reporting the potential rule breaches, Chelsea said that it “treated these matters with the utmost seriousness, providing full cooperation to all relevant regulators”.

A subsequent investigation by the Premier League found that payments by third parties associated with Chelsea were made to players, unregistered agents and other third parties, which were not disclosed to the regulatory authorities at the time.

The Premier League’s report named a number of transfers related to those payments between 2011 and 2018, including those of Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto’o, Willian, Ramires, David Luiz, Andre Schurrle and Nemanja Matic.

There was no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of those players. Hazard, Willian, Matic and David Luiz all played for the Blues in 2016-17.

The Premier League assessed a series of recalculations of the club’s historical financial submissions, taking into account the previously undisclosed payments, and concluded that Chelsea would not have breached its profitability and sustainability rules had the payments been registered at the time.

It therefore deemed that a points deduction would not be an appropriate punishment.

The £10m fine would have been £20m, but was reduced by 50% on account of Chelsea’s proactive self-reporting and co-operation with the process.

The additional £750,000 fine in March was for the registration of academy players between 2019 and 2022, for which Chelsea were also given an immediate nine-month academy transfer ban.

'Spoke brilliantly' but Liverpool fans torn on Mac Allister contract comments

Alexis Mac Allister has made over 150 appearances for Liverpool

Did Alexis Mac Allister strike the right tone when he told the media about his contract situation with Liverpool?

The Argentine midfielder has a deal with the Reds until 2028, but said on Tuesday that he is “very sad” not to have received a new contract in the summer after team-mates Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch penned new agreements.

The public approach to stalling contract dealings is nothing new at Liverpool.

In November 2024, Mohamed Salah spoke openly about his contract stalemate when he admitted he was “disappointed” by a lack of offers from the club, as he entered the final six months of his deal.

Salah was eventually offered an extension and Mac Allister will be hoping for the same.

But as they were with Salah, opinions are split on whether taking it public was the fair thing to do.

Fans contacting BBC Sport claim the ordeal is “self-indulgent”, while former Everton and Chelsea winger, Pat Nevin believes Mac Allister “said exactly the right things”.

Nevin told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast: “I often hear various players saying things and pushing things a certain way and you get a bit fed up with it.

“You’re thinking, ‘go whinge and whine somewhere else mate, you’re doing OK’. Not this time.

“I thought he spoke brilliantly. I thought he said exactly the right things - that he loves the club. Any fan watching that is thinking how he just wants to play for Liverpool Football Club.

“He’s just shown us that is the case and if you are asked the question you answer it honestly. He is saying he’s seen his mates getting these contracts which might be disappointing, but he’s saying all the correct things I think.

“I take nothing away from that, I applaud him for all that.

“Things can change very quickly. It didn’t look like Cody Gakpo would leave very recently and then suddenly he’s knocking.

“If he is asking for far too much money and putting that pressure on it then he is playing a very good game because to speak the way he did there didn’t sound like that. It sounded like somebody who just wanted a contract offered.”

BBC Radio Merseyside also discussed the situation with Liverpool fan, Joel Richards, who called Mac Allister’s comments a “clever tactic”.

“Mac Allister’s at an age now, 27, where his next contract is going to be the biggest one of his career,” Richards said.

“He is someone who will be looking to be remunerated properly after seeing his team-mates getting bumper pay rises so, of course he’s going to put it out there that he came very close to leaving in the summer.

“I’d say it’s a clever tactic but how many times have we been here with footballers when they get a microphone put in front of them? If it wasn’t going to happen here before a Champions League game, it would have happened with Argentina on international duty.

“Objectively speaking, if you’re going to canvas the opinions of a decent size of Liverpool fans from last season, asked them what you thought on Mac Allister and whether he was deserving of a new deal, I think a large majority of that sample size would say ‘no’ simply because of the performances that he put in.

“However, it’s easy to focus on the negatives of last season whereas, his first two seasons at Liverpool he was an important player for us.”

Liverpool’s communications department have dealt with tricky player-led controversies in recent times.

Salah told media he had been “thrown under the bus” during a stand-off with former boss Arne Slot last season, Dominik Szoboszlai had to clear up a move to shrug his shoulders at fans after defeat at Manchester City and now Mac Allister has made contract frustration public.

Some fans think the World Cup winner could have held back.

Writing in to BBC Sport, supporter Rob said Mac Allister “should do his talking on the pitch, not off it”, while fan Patricio said the move was “childish” and that the midfielder should “earn” an extension.

BBC Sport reader David wrote: “Very poor from Mac Allister on so many levels. He still has two years remaining on his existing contract, had a very poor season so is not in a position to renegotiate terms unlike other players he referred to, and no doubt he is fully aware there will be a time to negotiate a new contract later in the season if his form improves.”

And fan Stuart added: “Self-indulgent and not in any way helpful. Alexis was there to represent the club ahead of a huge match and first major Anfield occasion for Iraola, not to air his contract grievance. You’re not bigger than the club even if you are a World Cup winner.”

Como officials giving up seats to older fans for Euro debut

Como president Mirwan Suwarso and several directors are giving up their tickets for the club’s Champions League debut to allow elderly supporters to attend.

The Serie A club will host RB Leipzig on Thursday (20:00 BST) after qualifying for the continental competition for the first time in their 119-year history.

They did so by finishing fourth in the Italian top flight last season under former Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

However, the demand for tickets for Como’s historic European debut has far exceeded the supply.

The club’s home venue of Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on the shores of Lake Como has a capacity of about 12,000, but that number was reduced further by 1,000 because of Uefa’s broadcasting and operational requirements.

After the tickets were sold out, Indonesian businessman Suwarso has now announced on Instagram that he and other club executives plan to surrender their seats for older fans.

“With the reduced capacity and the limited number of tickets available, unfortunately we cannot accommodate everyone who would have liked to be there,” Suwarso wrote.

“However, some club executives and I have decided to give up our seats for this match.”

“We want those seats to be allocated to supporters who have waited the longest - fans born in 1950 or earlier, who have followed Como through every division and every era.”

“We will be honoured to give up our seat for them.”

Como have enjoyed a remarkable rise in recent years, climbing from the lower divisions to secure a place among Europe’s elite.

The Lombardy-based outfit - who have twice gone bankrupt in the past two decades - ended a 21-year wait to reach Serie A in 2024 after a third promotion in six seasons.

They finished 10th in their first season in the top division before former Spain international Fabregas guided them to a top-four finish and a place in the Champions League last term.

After their opener against Leipzig, Como will also face Feyenoord, Manchester United, Lens, AEK Athens, Real Betis, Paris St-Germain and Barcelona in their maiden European campaign.