Spain's Aitana Bonmati in hospital with viral meningitis days before Euro 2025
Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati is being treated in hospital for viral meningitis just days before the start of Euro 2025.
The 27-year-old Barcelona player, who has won the Ballon d'Or for the past two years, was absent for her country's 3-1 friendly win over Japan on Friday.
Advertisement
She posted a picture on Instagram of herself watching the match, which was played in the Spanish city of Leganes, from a hospital bed.
Euro 2025 kicks off on Wednesday, with world champions Spain set to begin their campaign a day later against Portugal in Bern.
Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati, right, in action against England in February (Zac Goodwin/PA)
National team head coach Montse Tome, whose side also face Belgium and Italy in Group B, told a press conference: 'Initially all the tests came back fine but the last one confirmed she has viral meningitis.
'The word is scary but the doctor tells me it's under control. She will remain hospitalised; we don't know the timeline of her recovery.
Advertisement
'She's an extremely important player for us and we will wait for her, no matter what, as long as we have to.'
Bonmati was a key member of the Spain squad which won the 2023 World Cup – following victory over England in the final – and the 2024 Nations League.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
ICC Women's World Cup 2025
September30 India v Sri Lanka, Bengaluru (d/n) (10:30 BST)October1 Australia v New Zealand, Indore (d/n) (10:30 BST)2 Bangladesh v Pakistan, Colombo (RPS) (d/n) (10:30 BST)3 England v South Africa, Bengaluru (d/n) (10:30 BST)4 Sri Lanka v Australia, Colombo (RPS) (d/n) (10:30 BST)5 India v Pakistan, Colombo (RPS) (d/n) (10:30 BST)6 New Zealand v South Africa, Indore (d/n) (10:30 BST)7 England v Bangladesh, Guwahati (d/n) (10:30 BST)8 Australia v Pakistan, Colombo (RPS) (d/n) (10:30 BST)9 India v South Africa, Visakhapatnam (d/n) (10:30 BST)10 New Zealand v Bangladesh, Visakhapatnam (d/n) (10:30 BST)11 England v Sri Lanka, Guwahati (d/n) (10:30 BST)12 India v Australia, Visakhapatnam (d/n) (10:30 BST)13 South Africa v Bangladesh, Visakhapatnam (d/n) (10:30 BST)14 Sri Lanka v New Zealand, Colombo (RPS) (d/n) (10:30 BST)15 England v Pakistan, Colombo (RPS) (d/n) (10:30 BST)16 Australia v Bangladesh, Visakhapatnam (d/n) (10:30 BST)17 Sri Lanka v South Africa, Colombo (RPS) (d/n) (10:30 BST)18 New Zealand v Pakistan, Colombo (RPS) (d/n) (10:30 BST)19 India v England, Indore (d/n) (10:30 BST)20 Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, Colombo (RPS) (d/n) (10:30 BST)21 South Africa v Pakistan, Colombo (RPS) (d/n) (10:30 BST)22 Australia v England, Indore (d/n) (10:30 BST)23 India v New Zealand, Guwahati (d/n) (10:30 BST)24 Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Colombo (RPS) (d/n) (10:30 BST)25 Australia v South Africa, Indore (d/n) (10:30 BST)26 England v New Zealand, Guwahati (05:30 GMT)26 India v Bangladesh, Bengaluru (d/n) (09:30 GMT) 29 Semi-final 1, Guwahati/Colombo (RPS) (d/n) (09:30 GMT)30 Semi-final 2, Bengaluru (d/n) (09:30 GMT)November2 Final, Colombo (RPS)/Bengaluru (d/n) (09:30 GMT)NB Fixtures and start times are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Casemiro makes final decision on Man Utd exit as Carlo Ancelotti role emerges
Casemiro has been attracting interest from Saudi Arabia for the past 18 months as United have been looking to trim their huge wage bill - but he's set to stay at Old Trafford Big-earning Brazilian midfielder Casemiro is set to stay at Manchester United next season after being offered a World Cup lifeline by Carlo Ancelotti. Casemiro, who collects a cool £350,000-a-week, was handed a shock recall by his country when his former Real Madrid boss named his first Brazil squad earlier this month. And with the 33-year-old now targeting the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States next summer, he believes his chances of playing in a third World Cup will be enhanced by staying in the Premier League. Casemiro has been attracting interest from Saudi Arabia for the past 18 months as United have been looking to trim their huge wage bill. But he worked his way back into manager Ruben Amorim's plans towards the end of the season and was rewarded when new Brazil coach Ancelotti ended his two-year international absence by bringing him into his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay. Casemiro played the full 90 minutes in both games as Brazil collected four points to move up to third place in the South American qualifying table. Ancelotti managed Casemiro at the Bernabeu and didn't agree with the decision to sell him to United in a £70million deal three years ago. The Italian believes the five-time Champions League winner can be a big dressing room influence for him during his first crack at international management. Casemiro has one year left on his United contract, although the Reds have an option to trigger a 12-month extension. He impressed Amorim with his attitude during the final few months of a traumatic season, but United will not stand in his way if the Brazilian decided to cash in by moving to Saudi. Casemiro has continually insisted that he is happy in Manchester despite interest from Al-Nassr, the big-spending club that has just handed Cristiano Ronaldo a two-year contract worth almost £500 million. The Brazilian is a close friend of the 40-year-old Portuguese after they played together at Madrid. And he posted a picture of him wearing a pair of £7,000 LED recovery boots manufactured by a company partly owned by Ronaldo on his Instagram account during the week. United are looking for buyers for a raft of players who are surplus to requirements under Amorim as they try to raise money to finance a rebuild. Wing trio Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony are all in the shop window, but the Reds' hopes that Inter Milan would follow up an enquiry for misfiring £72 million striker Rasmus Hojlund with a bid for the Danish international. Inter targeted two new strikers after finishing second in serie A and then being hammered by Paris St Germain in the Champions League final. But they have spent £20 million on Parma's Ange-Yoan Bonny and are ready to give teenager Francesco Pio Esposito more game-time after he capped a fine performance against River Plate in the Club World Cup with his first goal for the club. That would close the door on a permanent move for Hojlund, although Inter could still offer a 12-month loan option with an obligation to buy. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Paul Pogba seals return to football after doping ban as ex-Man Utd star joins Ligue 1 side Monaco
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PAUL POGBA is finally back in football. And having ended his 18-month doping ban at the age of 32, the ex-Manchester United midfielder has joined a club in home country France for the first time ever. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Paul Pogba will finally play domestic football in France Credit: MANACO 5 Pogba failed a test in August 2023 and hasn't played since the following month Credit: Getty Monaco have signed the 2018 World Cup winner on a two-year contract. The former Juventus hero last played in September 2023 but insists he "still feels like a kid". Pogba was suspended following a random drug test after the Italian giants played Udinese on the first day of the 2023-24 season. He was banned for four years but that was slashed by 30 months on appeal last October. READ MORE ON MAN UTD WISH ROO WERE HERE? Wayne Rooney pictured looking glum on holiday with Coleen & Utd legends The four-time Serie A winner pledged to ultimately resume playing. However, Pogba's contract with Juve was terminated by mutual consent last November. Two months after that, he appeared to hint at a THIRD spell with the Red Devils. Pogba teased United fans with an Instagram post. 5 The midfielder reckons he's mentally and physically ready Credit: MANACO BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK He shared a cartoon drawing of himself next to Old Trafford ace Amad Diallo - with BOTH players in Red Devils' kit. Pogba sent speculation spiralling by adding the words: "Let's see what's coming..." Man Utd open to Rasmus Hojlund offers LATEST with Italian giants keen | Transfers Exposed 5 He's been free to find a new team since March this year. And it's understood he hoped to attract interest from the Bundesliga as well as Juve's major rivals in Serie A. Instead, however, Ligue 1 runners-up Monaco have swooped. The Old Trafford academy product left United for his first stint with Juve in 2012. Four glittering years later, Pogba returned to the Red Devils for a then-British record fee of £89million. But his Premier League form was more erratic than electric. Pogba did help Jose Mourinho's Red Devils win both the Europa League and League Cup in 2016-17. But he reunited with Juve via a four-year deal and free transfer in July 2022, only to fail a drug test 13 months later He was found to have taken banned substance dehydroepiandrosterone, which boosts testosterone and can improve endurance. But Pogba's suspension was cut last autumn when the Court of Arbitration for Sport accepted his case it "was not intentional". Now the 91-cap star is revving up for a top-level return. Just days ago, as he neared his move to Monaco, Pogba said: "I'm mentally and physically ready, and I'm eager to start again. "I'm 32, but I still feel like a kid." Pogba also criticised Juve for rejecting his pleas for help. He told French TV channel TF1: "I asked to get a fitness coach. I had the right, and I was always part of the team. "They were not very kind to me, they did not support me, and I was shocked. I did not understand why." "I thought I was at war with anti-doping authorities."
