Bringing you all the news from the summer transfer window and other snippets from the soccer world…
Real Madrid have added another player to their already swollen midfield ranks after agreeing to sign Croatian international Mateo Kovacic from Inter Milan subject to a medical.
Real said on their website (www.realmadrid.com) on Tuesday that the 21-year-old had agreed a six-year contract and would be presented at the Bernabeu stadium on Wednesday.
No financial details were disclosed but Spanish media reported the transfer fee was around 30 million euros ($33.1 million).
Kovacic is viewed as ideal backup for Croatia team mate Luka Modric and Germany midfielder Toni Kroos at Real.
He will compete for a place with the likes of James Rodriguez, Isco, Asier Illarramendi, Casemiro and Lucas Silva although his arrival could prompt the exit of at least one of those players.
Born in Austria, Kovacic came through the Dynamo Zagreb youth academy and helped the club win two Croatian league titles and two domestic cups before joining Inter in January 2013.
He made his Champions League debut for Zagreb against Real in 2011-12 and later that season became the second youngest goal-scorer in the competition.
"With unquestionable technical ability, Kovacic stands out for his ball control, his dribbling and his passing into space," Real said.
"These attributes allow him to play as an attacking midfielder as well as a little further back where his high percentage of successful passes is a sure means of getting the side moving."
Kovacic made his debut for Croatia in a World Cup qualifier against Serbia in March 2013 and has won 21 caps including three at last year's finals in Brazil.
Marcelo earns Real win over Galatasaray in friendly
Real Madrid fullback Marcelo's struck a fine goal to earn a 2-1 victory at home to Galatasaray on Tuesday in their final friendly before they begin their La Liga campaign at the weekend with a trip to promoted Sporting Gijon.
Defender Nacho fired Real ahead in the 17th minute of the Santiago Bernabeu trophy invitational match when he nodded into the net from a Luka Modric corner before former Real midfielder Wesley Sneijder levelled eight minutes into the second half.
Marcelo settled the game in the 81st minute when he skipped past several opponents into the penalty area and clipped a neat low shot past goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.
It was an unconvincing performance from the world's richest club by income, however, with Cristiano Ronaldo wasting several chances and winger Gareth Bale failing to convince before making way for Denis Cheryshev with about five minutes left.
Under new coach Rafa Benitez, Real are looking to improve on a disappointing 2014-15 season when they failed to win any major silverware, starting on Sunday against Gijon.
The club announced earlier on Tuesday that they had made another addition to their squad with the signing of Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Inter Milan for a fee reported to be about 30 million euros ($33.1 million).
Brazil international Marcelo, one of the club captains, said Real were ready for the start of the La Liga season, when they will be aiming to deny champions and great rivals Barcelona a sixth title in eight years.
"We know that it's always very difficult at the beginning but we will give our all to put together a great season and start on the right foot," he told Spanish television.
Barca's Pique apologises over Super Cup red card rant
Barcelona centre back Gerard Pique has apologised for being sent off in Monday's Spanish Super Cup second leg at home to Athletic Bilbao but denied insulting the linesman.
- Soccer Updates: Bilbao stun Barcelona for historic Super Cup win
With Barca attempting to overturn a 4-0 deficit from the first leg and leading 1-0 on the night, Spain international Pique was shown a straight red card 10 minutes into the second half at the Nou Camp.
Referee Carlos Velasco Carballo acted after Pique strode angrily up to the linesman and yelled in his face and Velasco Carballo wrote in his match report that the player had used insulting language.
Bilbao levelled the score on the night to make it 1-1 16 minutes from time and secure a 5-1 aggregate success.
"I want to apologise because the attitude with which I protested to the assistant referee was not the correct one," Pique wrote on his Twitter account on Tuesday.
"It was a very tense match with a lot at stake," he added. "However, at no point did I direct any insult towards him."
The Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) is expected to announce Pique's punishment on Wednesday and, despite the apology, he is likely to be banned for several matches.
Barca begin their bid for a sixth La Liga title in eight years at Bilbao on Sunday.
© 2024 Rediff.com -