Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has insisted that Argentina did not disrespect Spain by turning their backs during the 2026 World Cup trophy presentation.
The South American side faced intense scrutiny and were widely labelled as classless after footage showed almost the entire squad facing away as their European rivals celebrated.
Former England international Stuart Pearce and Spain midfielder Dani Olmo were among prominent figures who publicly condemned the actions of the defeated finalists.
Acknowledging the supporters
Only Palmeiras striker Flaco Lopez was seen watching as Rodri hoisted the iconic golden trophy following the showpiece event.
However, the United centre-back has now clarified that the squad was simply demonstrating gratitude towards their own travelling fanbase rather than snubbing the victors.
“We were always very respectful of the opponent,” Martinez told reporters.
“It was also said that after the final, we hadn’t acknowledged Spain, but we greeted all the players and all the coaching staff.”
“The image that you see where we are turning our backs is when our people were singing to us, so it was a show of respect towards our people, staying there in the moment.”
‘Mixed feelings’ over villain status
The 2022 world champions were repeatedly accused of utilising aggressive tactics throughout the recent tournament.
Football’s global governing body, FIFA, has subsequently launched a formal investigation to determine if disciplinary codes were breached during ensuing post-match altercations.
When asked about his nation being cast as the villains of the competition, the former Ajax defender admitted the accusations caused him deep frustration.
“I have quite a few mixed feelings about it, a little bit of anger because clearly they have no basis to generate that hate,” he added.
“I see how my teammates fight on the pitch, how the fans encourage us, and they talk about us being arrogant, but maybe that speaks a bit more about the people who do those things than about us.”
Chelsea have increased their asking price for winger Pedro Neto to more than £75m amid mounting transfer interest from Manchester City and Liverpool.
The Blues are actively monitoring the inflated fees demanded for wide players across Europe this summer.
Valuations for Paris St-Germain’s Bradley Barcola and RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande are currently being used as a benchmark by the Stamford Bridge hierarchy.
Both European clubs are expected to command figures in excess of £100m for their respective attackers.
Market inflation drives up asking price
While acknowledging Neto may not fetch a nine-figure sum, the London club believe his price tag should reflect the current market premium.
The 26-year-old registered 20 goal contributions last season, matching the output of the highly sought-after Barcola.
Chelsea originally paid Wolves £54m for the Portuguese international in 2024 and hold a strong negotiating position.
The talented forward remains under contract with the Premier League side until the summer of 2031.
Maresca targets Etihad Stadium reunion
Manchester City are heavily linked with a move for the player, raising the prospect of a reunion with former manager Enzo Maresca.
The Italian tactician is a known admirer of the wide man, having praised his exceptional work rate during their time together in London.
“If you just attack and you are not able to defend, you don’t play many games, in my view. In terms of sacrifice, Pedro has been top since we started together.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool are also monitoring the situation closely.
However, the Merseyside outfit could drop their interest if Andoni Iraola’s side successfully pursue a deal for PSG’s Barcola instead.
Extended break delays pre-season return
Neto is not actively being pushed towards the exit door by his current employers.
The Portuguese attacker is currently absent from the club’s pre-season tour of Sydney.
His omission is entirely unrelated to ongoing transfer speculation.
Instead, the versatile forward has been granted an extended holiday following his recent World Cup exertions with his national team.
Liverpool have made contact with the representatives of Juventus winger Francisco Conceicao as they seek a more affordable transfer alternative to Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola following the departure of Mohamed Salah.
The Anfield club are eager to bolster their attacking options after their Egyptian talisman unexpectedly left Merseyside a year before his contract was due to expire.
While the Reds identified Barcola as a priority signing, they have been deterred by the French champions demanding a staggering £140m fee.
This prohibitive valuation has forced the Premier League side to explore other avenues in the transfer market, including previous targets who are currently unavailable.
Search for Salah replacement widens
Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise remains off the market as the German club refuse to sanction a sale, while RB Leipzig prospect Yan Diomande appears destined for Real Madrid.
Having already secured Spanish forward Victor Munoz for £34.5m last month, Liverpool’s recruitment team have now pivoted towards Italy to complete their attacking rebuild.
Initial discussions have reportedly taken place regarding Conceicao, who could be available for approximately £42.6m despite Juventus’ initial reluctance to sell.
Conceicao’s rising stock in Turin
The 23-year-old Portuguese international only completed a £27.3m permanent transfer to the Serie A giants last summer following a successful loan spell from Porto.
Since arriving in Italy, the dynamic wide player has registered 11 goals across 82 appearances in all competitions.
Despite being contracted to the Turin outfit until 2030, an official bid in the region of €50m is expected to test their resolve.
Past interest and player stance
The Merseyside outfit previously monitored the forward last season, though he remained fiercely committed to his current employers when questioned about a potential Premier League switch.
I know people talk about a big club, but I play for a big club where I am happy.
At the moment I am only focused on these two games with the national team and then I will focus on the final stretch of the season to help my club as much as possible.
I am at a big club where the pressure to win is very high.
I just have to keep working and contribute with goals and assists.
Federico Chiesa has declared his commitment to Liverpool following growing speculation over his future, insisting he is fully focused on the new era under manager Andoni Iraola.
The Italian international scored during Saturday’s 4-2 friendly victory against Sunderland as the Reds began their pre-season preparations.
His goalscoring return comes amid intense scrutiny regarding his position on Merseyside after a highly frustrating spell under previous boss Arne Slot.
Seeking consistency in the Premier League
Across two seasons working with Slot, the 28-year-old managed just a single top-flight start and recorded five goals in 50 appearances across all competitions.
This lack of regular game time led the former Juventus winger to publicly admit last month that he would have to look elsewhere if his situation did not improve.
However, following a promising early display under Iraola, the attacker has now firmly clarified his immediate intentions.
Right now, at the moment, I am happy here at Liverpool. I love the club, I love the fans, I love everything.
I am doing the best I can to have a chance here – and then we will see.
At the minute, the only thing I am thinking about is Liverpool.
Overcoming past frustrations
Iraola arrived at Anfield in June following the dismissal of Slot, presenting a crucial clean slate for players previously on the fringes of the squad.
The £12.5m signing, who remains contracted to the club until 2028, appears determined to prove his worth to the newly appointed Spanish coach.
When questioned about whether this summer represents a genuinely fresh start, the forward offered a remarkably honest assessment of his recent history.
Maybe there have been too many fresh starts. But I don’t care, I am trying to do my best for this new manager.
Last year, I felt ready for a bigger role, then it depended on the coach whether he wanted me to play or not.
The gaffer decided to do so, he had his gameplans, he took his decisions, I have nothing to say about that. It is football.
This year, let us say it is a new chapter. There is a new manager and I have to focus on that.
Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has dismissed Liverpool’s hopes of signing Michael Olise this summer, insisting the winger will remain in Germany.
The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield as the Premier League club reportedly search for a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah.
Real Madrid have also shown strong interest in the Frenchman following a superb individual World Cup campaign where he provided seven assists in eight matches.
Stunning debut season in Germany
Olise enjoyed an outstanding previous campaign under manager Vincent Kompany, registering a combined 48 goals and assists across 52 appearances.
His prolific attacking output helped the Bavarian giants secure a domestic double, lifting both the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal.
Consequently, the German champions are eager to retain their star attacker and are reportedly preparing to offer him a lucrative new contract.
Real Madrid speculation dismissed
When questioned about claims that the highly-rated forward was pushing for a move to Spain, Freund remained completely relaxed about the situation.
“This is absolutely not an issue for us.”
“We’re delighted that Michael is back from his holiday. He’ll play an important role for FC Bayern this season, just as he did last season, too.”
The sporting director’s comments followed a surprise 2-1 friendly defeat for a youthful Bayern side against third-tier outfit Wehen Wiesbaden.
Senior figures such as Olise and England captain Harry Kane were absent from that fixture but are expected to feature later in the pre-season schedule.
Alternative targets identified
Real Madrid recently issued a formal statement denying reports that they had submitted a £130m bid for the coveted attacker.
The Spanish club highlighted their excellent institutional relationship with Bayern and expressed regret over the circulation of unfounded speculation.
Given the firm stance from Munich, both Liverpool and Real Madrid are now actively exploring alternative attacking options in the transfer market.
The Merseyside club are reportedly monitoring Paris St-Germain’s Bradley Barcola and Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche to bolster their forward line.
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig have reportedly rejected an £85m bid from Los Blancos for Yan Diomande, demanding a fee closer to the £100m mark.
Andoni Iraola began his tenure as Liverpool manager with a 4-2 pre-season victory over Sunderland in Nashville, though the result was overshadowed by an early injury to Joe Gomez.
The Spanish tactician watched his new side secure a high-scoring win in the United States courtesy of goals from Kieran Morrison, Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas.
However, the celebratory mood quickly dampened when the Reds’ captain for the evening went down in the eighth minute.
Gomez was immediately withdrawn, compounding an already precarious defensive situation for the Premier League giants.
Defensive crisis looms for Iraola
The Merseyside club are desperately short of senior options at centre-back following a string of high-profile absences.
“Probably the worst news has been straight away the injury of Joe,” said the former Bournemouth boss.
We were happy because we were going through training without losing any players and unluckily for us we’ve lost Joe straight away.
With Virgil van Dijk given extended leave following the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign and new signing Jeremy Jacquet rested, two 18-year-old debutants were forced to hold the defensive line.
Mor Talla N’diaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe performed admirably, but sporting director Richard Hughes will be acutely aware of the need for immediate reinforcements.
Teenager Giovanni Leoni also remains sidelined as he recovers from a severe anterior cruciate ligament tear.
Attacking flair shines in Music City
Despite their defensive frailties, Liverpool demonstrated plenty of attacking intent to entertain the American crowd.
Sunderland had initially threatened an upset, with Enzo le Fee and Timur Tutierov finding the net for the Championship side.
Yet the introduction of Szoboszlai at half-time shifted the momentum firmly back in Liverpool’s favour.
The Hungarian playmaker marked his return with a stunning strike from outside the penalty area to level the contest at 2-2.
Harvey Elliott also impressed upon returning from a loan spell at Aston Villa, providing the assist for Morrison’s opening goal.
Following the departure of Mohamed Salah, the 19-year-old Northern Ireland international highlighted his potential as a valuable attacking option for the upcoming campaign.
Jack Grealish’s hopes of a return to Aston Villa appear over after the club signed winger Alejandro Garnacho on loan from Chelsea.
The 22-year-old Argentine has agreed a season-long move to Villa Park with an obligation to buy next summer.
His arrival follows Chelsea acquiring Morgan Rogers for a record £117m fee, initiating a domino effect in the transfer market.
Injury struggles and loan spell
The 30-year-old England international spent the 2025-26 campaign on loan at Everton from Manchester City after falling out of favour.
The former Villa captain regained his creative spark on Merseyside, registering six assists in 22 appearances before suffering a momentum-halting stress fracture in his foot.
Now back at the Etihad Stadium, the playmaker must decide whether to fight for his place under Enzo Maresca or seek a permanent departure.
A closed door at Villa Park
A romantic homecoming to the club he joined as a six-year-old had been heavily touted as the ideal solution.
Former team-mate Robert Snodgrass recently suggested a deal was a “no-brainer” for both parties.
“It’s well-documented that he is a die-hard Villa fan who is incredibly passionate about that club, so if the chance arose, you really have to think why not?”
Robert Snodgrass
However, Garnacho’s presence on the left flank provides a younger, faster alternative who will naturally command significant playing time.
Having made 213 appearances for his boyhood side before a £100m exit in 2021, the three-time Premier League winner may now have to look elsewhere for his next challenge.
Financial expert Stefan Borson has described the prolonged delay in delivering a verdict on Manchester City’s alleged financial breaches as “inexplicable” and “totally unacceptable”.
The reigning Premier League champions were initially charged with 115 alleged breaches of financial fair play regulations in February 2023.
That figure has since risen to 130, covering a period of intense domestic success between 2009 and 2018.
A hearing into the allegations concluded in December 2024, but a final outcome remains unpublished.
Industry frustration over drawn-out process
Many within English football anticipated a resolution ahead of the upcoming top-flight campaign.
However, with no public announcement forthcoming, Borson has expressed bafflement at the extended timeline.
Speaking to TalkSport, the financial specialist suggested that a definitive conclusion remains completely absent.
“The general feeling around the industry is that there’s been no decision yet, as remarkable as that is. 19 months on, 20 months on almost, still no decision.”
“Totally unacceptable, of course, beyond all of the parties’ expectations about when they would receive a decision. Broadly inexplicable by any sport of norms in these sorts of matters.”
Stefan Borson
Comparisons with Chelsea’s FA charges
The current delay is not an isolated administrative incident within the English game.
Borson highlighted a similar lag regarding Chelsea, who faced a Football Association hearing in November over 74 alleged rule breaches involving football agents.
Despite being a straightforward sanction hearing, an outcome for the Stamford Bridge club is still pending eight months later.
“I don’t really know what’s going on with these cases in terms of the timings and why they’re so elongated, but they’re completely out of the realms of normality.”
Etihad spending points to confidence
Despite the looming threat of severe sanctions, the Manchester club continues to operate aggressively in the market.
Recent outlays on player contracts, backroom staff and a £400m stadium development project indicate a distinct lack of internal panic.
According to Borson, this sustained financial commitment suggests the Etihad hierarchy remain highly confident of clearing their name.