Real Madrid's £130m Alvarez bid rejected

Julian Alvarez helped Atletico Madrid reach the Champions League semi-finals

Real Madrid have had a 150m euro (£130m) offer for striker Julian Alvarez rejected by city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Real president Florentino Perez last week pledged to make a 150m euro offer for an unnamed “galactico” player if re-elected to his position.

Having successfully retained control on Sunday, Perez made good on his promise.

However, the move for the 26-year-old Argentina forward was turned down by his club, who cited Alvarez’s release clause of 500m euros (£430m).

In a statement, Real said: “Following the meeting of the board of directors held today, it has made an offer of 150 million euros to Club Atletico de Madrid for the federative rights of the player Julian Alvarez.

“After reviewing and evaluating the offer, Club Atletico de Madrid has expressed its gratitude for the proposal, made within the framework of the good relations between both clubs, and has rejected it, referring to the player’s release clause.”

Atletico quoted the Real Madrid statement on X alongside a series of laughing emojis.

In a subsequent post they stated: “You must have confused education with gratitude, but to leave no doubt: we don’t thank you for anything.

“We neither study nor consider any offer for Julian. How could we not get along, when you make us laugh even more than Barcelona does.”

In a final post, Atletico added: “P.S. Taking advantage of the good relationship with your new president, let’s see if you stop ‘stealing’ players from our Academy. Thanks a lot, @realmadrid!”

Former Manchester City player Alvarez, who won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, joined the La Liga club in an £81.5m deal in 2024.

He scored 20 goals in 49 appearances for Atletico last season as they finished fourth in the table and reached the Champions League semi-finals.

Real have also confirmed the anticipated news that head coach Alvaro Arbeloa will leave the club, with Jose Mourinho set to be appointed in his place.

Arbeloa was promoted from his role leading Real Madrid B in January, replacing former Liverpool team-mate Xabi Alonso, and confirmed before the end of the season that he would not continue following a trophyless campaign.

Re-appointing Benfica head coach Mourinho, who led the Spanish giants from 2010 to 2013, was a key manifesto point in Perez’s election campaign. Mourinho signed a three-year deal in May that was conditional on Perez winning an extended stay.

“Real Madrid is deeply grateful to Alvaro Arbeloa, who throughout his time at the club, from his time in our youth academy, has consistently demonstrated loyalty, commitment, and professionalism. He exemplifies the values of our club.”

“Real Madrid, which will always be his home, wishes Alvaro Arbeloa and his entire family the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”

Silva agrees to replace Mourinho at Benfica

Marco Silva and Jose Mourinho both had spells as players with Portuguese clubs Belenenses and Rio Ave in their homeland

Marco Silva has agreed to become Benfica’s new head coach as the Portuguese club formalised Jose Mourinho’s departure for Real Madrid.

Silva, 48, ended his five-year stint as Fulham boss a week ago when his contract at Craven Cottage expired.

Benfica said they had “reached an agreement” with Silva who is set to sign a contract until the end of the 2027-28 season which can be extended to 2028-29.

Fulham were Silva’s fourth English club after spells in charge of Hull City, Watford and Everton.

Mourinho’s exit from Estadio da Luz was also announced, with Benfica saying Real Madrid will pay them £13m (15m euros) in compensation to bring the 63-year-old back to the Bernabeu.

“The coach [Mourinho] has given his agreement to this hiring,” added a Benfica statement.

“Thus ended Jose Mourinho’s second spell as manager of Benfica’s professional football team.”

Mourinho took charge of Benfica in September and led them to third place in the Primeira Liga this season as they went through the league campaign unbeaten.

In his previous spell in charge of Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, the Portuguese won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.

Man City and Chelsea remain in talks over Maresca

Enzo Maresca was an assistant to Pep Guardiola during Manchester City’s Treble-winning 2022-23 campaign

Manchester City and Chelsea remain locked in negotiations about Enzo Maresca replacing Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola announced on 22 May he would step down as City boss after a trophy laden decade in charge, and Maresca was quickly identified as the leading contender to be his replacement.

Talks are at an advanced stage, with senior figures at both clubs discussing a compensation package for Maresca.

The 46-year-old won the Club World Cup and Conference League during his time at Stamford Bridge but left in January and is keen to take the City job.

Chelsea feel they are due compensation under the terms of Maresca’s departure as he was contracted to the club until 2029 and left just six months ago.

The London club have been exploring their legal options and expect a compensation package to be paid, though it remains unclear both how much that might be, or when it will be resolved.

Maresca was an assistant to Guardiola during City’s Treble-winning 2022-23 campaign and played a key role in the club’s academy prior to joining the first team.

The former West Brom and Juventus midfielder left City in 2023 to manage Leicester, whom he guided to promotion to the Premier League in his only season.

Maresca’s final six months at Chelsea were marked by a fractured relationship with the club’s ownership.

Compensation negotiations have been made more complex as Chelsea became aware of City’s potential interest early in October and December.

Chelsea sources also claim they were aware of complaints from Maresca about the transfer policy at Stamford Bridge.

It is not known whether this played any role in Maresca’s departure, but the relationship continued to further deteriorate over a number of issues, including medical staff and team selections.

Despite the tension, Chelsea sources say the hierarchy still respected much of Maresca’s work with the players and he remained popular with the majority of the dressing room.

The club feel the upheaval played a major role in the club’s drop in form after his exit, with them not ending up qualifying for Europe.

Maresca had been open to renewing his contract early in the season amid interest from Serie A side Juventus.

City last week had an opening bid for midfielder Elliot Anderson rejected by Nottingham Forest.

The 23-year-old England international tops the club’s list of midfield targets following the departure of captain Bernardo Silva, and sources say they are expected to make another bid.

City have long admired Anderson, and they will not be swayed from paying a significant fee which could become a record fee for a British player.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is known to be a tough negotiator and is understood to want more than the £105m Arsenal paid to sign midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham in 2023.

Anderson is currently at the World Cup, but England boss Thomas Tuchel has said squad members will have permission to finalise transfers provided it does not significantly affect the team’s preparations.

BBC Sport has previously reported Anderson is leaning towards a move to City over rivals Manchester United.

Mourinho set for Real after Perez re-elected

Jose Mourinho’s last trophy was the Europa Conference League with Roma in 2022

Jose Mourinho is set to be confirmed as Real Madrid’s new head coach after Florentino Perez was re-elected as the club’s president until 2030.

Mourinho, 63, signed a three-year deal last month to become head coach of Real, but his contract would only be valid if Perez retained his role.

The 79-year-old, who obtained 65% of the vote, has been in office since 2009 and announced the election during an extraordinary news conference last month.

“We have won the elections and will continue working to keep winning titles,” Perez said. “I am still here and I am here to defend Real Madrid.

“We will continue working so that Real Madrid keeps winning titles, and we will fight until the end to achieve the 16th European Cup.

“We will continue to take pride in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, the best stadium in the world.

“Proud to have the best players in the world, proud to welcome back one of the best coaches in the world, a Madridista like Jose Mourinho. And rest assured, with me as president, Real Madrid has been, is, and will always remain owned by its members.”

Perez appointed Mourinho as Real Madrid boss in 2010

Real Madrid is owned entirely by members who elect the president, with this the first presidential election in 20 years to feature a challenger - renewable energy magnate Enrique Riquelme.

Perez was expected to win and promised to make a club record offer for an unnamed “great player” if re-elected.

He took 100% of the in-person and postal votes counted, gaining 21,741 votes to Riquelme’s 11,814 (35%).

Mourinho is leaving his role as manager of Benfica, where he took charge in September and led them to third place in the Primeira Liga this season.

In his previous spell in charge of Real between 2010 and 2013, the Portuguese won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.

Mourinho will replace Alvaro Arbeloa, who only took charge in January following Xabi Alonso’s departure as boss.

Real ended their 2025-26 campaign without silverware, with rivals Barcelona sealing the La Liga title with a 2-0 El Clasico victory.

Wolves sign Trippier and in Jimenez talks

Raul Jimenez was among the scorers in a 5-1 win against Serbia in Mexico’s final World Cup warm-up match on Friday

Wolves have signed former England full-back Kieran Trippier and are in talks to re-sign former striker Raul Jimenez on a free transfer.

Trippier left Newcastle at the end of the season when his contract expired and has signed a two-year deal at Molineux.

The 35-year-old played 160 times for Newcastle after joining from Atletico Madrid in January 2022, and made 54 appearances for England between 2017 and 2024.

“We know what we’ve lacked this year, and we know what we need next year - experience, leadership, resilient characters and strong characters,” said head coach Rob Edwards.

“That’s what we’re going to need in abundance, and Tripps ticks every box.”

Jimenez, 35, was listed by Fulham on Monday among a group of players set to leave the Premier League club when his contract expires at the end of the month.

It is understood negotiations have begun over a return to Molineux, where he scored 57 goals in 166 games between 2018 and 2023.

His 40 Premier League goals make him Wolves’ top scorer in the English top flight.

Jimenez is on international duty with World Cup hosts Mexico, who begin the tournament against South Africa on Thursday.

Wolves are looking to rebuild after finishing bottom of the Premier League last season and being relegated to the Championship.