La Liga transfer news: Spanish midfielder Alex Baena joins Atletico Madrid
The 23-year-old arrives from Villarreal for an unspecified fee, although Spanish media report the deal could amount to nearly 50 million euros ($58.8 million).
'Atletico de Madrid and Villarreal have reached an agreement for the transfer of Alex Baena. The 23-year-old midfielder has signed for our club until June 30, 2030,' the Rojiblancos said in a statement.
ALSO READ: Chelsea signs Joao Pedro from Brighton ahead of FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal against Palmeiras
Baena came through the youth academy at Villarreal and made 148 appearances for the Yellow Submarine, scoring 26 goals and laying on 40 assists.
He spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Girona, before returning to his parent club and cementing his place as the key attacking component at the 2021 Europa League champion.
Baena has 10 Spain caps and was part of La Roja's European Championship-winning squad last summer.
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Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘It doesn't make sense…': Cristiano Ronaldo pays tribute to Diogo Jota after Portugal teammate's death in tragic car crash
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo paid a heartfelt tribute to his national teammate Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in a car crash while holidaying in Spain with his brother, Andre Silva. Jota and Silva suffered the horrific accident in Zamora, with local authorities first confirming the news. A statement from Zamora Provincial Council read: 'Two young people die in an accident on the A-52 (Palacios de Sanabria). 'The Rionegro del Puente Fire Station (Northern Zone of the @DiputacionZA Consortium) responded. The vehicle caught fire, and the flames spread to the vegetation. 'They were 28 and 26 years old. RIP.' The Liverpool forward was a part of the UEFA Nations League-winning Portugal squad, led by Ronaldo, and also played in the final against Spain. After the 40-year-old Ronaldo scored the equaliser and exited the field with an injury before the end of 90 minutes, Jota came on as a substitute for the last 15 minutes of extra time before Portugal clinched the title 5-3 on penalties. Jota is survived by his wife, Rute Cardoso, whom he married only two weeks ago in a ceremony in Porto and three children. Não faz sentido. Ainda agora estávamos juntos na Seleção, ainda agora tinhas casado. À tua familia, à tua mulher e aos teus filhos, envio os meus sentimentos e desejo-lhes toda a força do mundo. Sei que estarás sempre com eles. Descansem em Paz, Diogo e André. Vamos todos sentir… — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) July 3, 2025 Ronaldo wrote: 'It doesn't make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten married. To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you.' Jota made 49 appearances for Portugal since his debut in 2019 and joined Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2020, making 182 appearances for the club. Jota scored 65 goals and provided 26 assists for Liverpool, contributing to two Premier League titles, including the recently concluded 2024-25 season. 'Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota,' a club statement read. 'The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre. 'Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre's family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. 'We will continue to provide them with our full support.' The Portuguese Football Federation also stated that they have requested that the UEFA observe a minute's silence before the national team's match against Spain in the Women's European Championship on Thursday.
Mint
40 minutes ago
- Mint
Who was Diogo Jota? Liverpool and Portugal footballer dies in car crash days after wedding
In a devastating incident that has left the football world in shock, Diogo Jota, the Portuguese footballer and Liverpool FC forward, has died in a tragic car accident just 10 days after his wedding. He was 28. Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva, also a professional footballer with Portuguese club Penafiel, died in the early hours of Thursday after their Lamborghini reportedly crashed and caught fire in the Spanish province of Zamora, the BBC Sports reported. According to Spain's Guardia Civil, the accident took place around 12:30 am local time while the vehicle was overtaking another car. A tyre burst is believed to have caused the vehicle to veer off the road before bursting into flames. Jota had recently tied the knot with his longtime partner Rute Cardoso on June 22, with whom he shared three children. Heartfelt images from their wedding ceremony had been posted just days before the accident. The footballer's untimely death has triggered an outpouring of grief from fans, teammates, and football associations around the world. Liverpool FC, who signed him from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020 for £41 million, said they were 'devastated.' 'We are heartbroken. Diogo was adored by our fans, loved by his teammates and cherished by everyone who worked with him,' read a statement from Wolves, his former club. Over the course of his career, Jota made 182 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 65 goals and helping the team clinch the FA Cup, League Cup and the Premier League title. He also represented Portugal at the international level, earning 49 caps and scoring 14 goals. He last played for the national team in the UEFA Nations League final against Spain on June 8, just weeks before the tragedy. Beyond football, Jota was known for his passion for esports, and had built a significant online following. He had endorsement deals with global brands like Nike and EA Sports, earning him an estimated $1.5 million annually. His total net worth at the time of his death was reportedly around $18 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He was also involved in charity campaigns and collaborated with global artists like Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa on promotional and philanthropic initiatives. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) released a statement expressing profound sorrow: 'Much more than an amazing player, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person. We have lost two champions. Their passing is an irreparable loss to Portuguese football.' As a mark of respect, UEFA has announced a minute's silence before Portugal's Women's Euro qualifier against Spain.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Who is Diogo Jota's wife? Newlywed Rute Cardoso shared their wedding video just hours before his tragic death; clip goes viral
Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota tragically died at the age of 28 following a devastating car crash in northern Spain during the early hours of Thursday, July 3, 2025, as per a report in Marca, a Spanish newspaper. According to the Daily Mail, the young footballer got married just two weeks ago to his childhood girlfriend. The unfortunate news has left the fans in complete shock. As per the reports, the Portuguese international had been traveling in the Spanish province of Zamora with his brother Andre Silva, who was 26 years old and was also a professional footballer. The collision happened early morning on the A-52 in Zamora, which is close to Palacios de Sanabria and the key route for people coming from northern Portugal. As soon as the news surfaced on social media, tributes flooded in from across Portugal and the football world. Club Liverpool also shared a post in an emotional tribute to the footballer. The caption of the post read, "Liverpool Football Club is devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota." Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. Who is Rute Cardos, Diogo Jota's wife? Diogo Jota, the Liverpool player, is survived by his wife, Rute Cardos, who shared an emotional video of their wedding just hours before the tragic incident took place. As already mentioned, the couple tied the knot on June 22, just two weeks before Jota's death, and the duo celebrated the special day with their three children. Just last week, Jota, in a recent interview, described himself as the luckiest man in the world, as he got married to his childhood sweetheart, who is also the mother of his three children. The couple finally got married after several years of dating and formally committed to each other in a wedding that mirrored the stability and love they had. Rute Cardos's last post leaves fans mourning over Diogo Jota's death Amid this, a video shared by Rute has surfaced on social media and is going viral, which reminisces about her wedding to her longtime lover and footballer Diogo Jota. The picture has surfaced amid the tragedy his family is going through. In the post she remarked, "A day we will never forget." As soon as the post surfaced on social media, it quickly grabbed the attention of fans, and they shared their heartfelt tributes to the late footballer. One wrote, "Life is a breath. We often wonder when Christ's return will be, but it can be at any time for any of us. All it takes is one accident. Sometimes we get married in the morning, leaving this life at the end of the night. Rest in peace, Diogo. A very sad day." "You will always be a much-loved player for all football fans, and we all love you. Rest in peace.💔," another added. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
