Mbappe inherits Real Madrid's number 10 jersey after Modric exit
The 26-year-old French forward wore the number nine shirt in his debut season after arriving from Paris St Germain on a free transfer.
He scored 44 goals in all competitions in the 2024-25 season, though failed to lift a major trophy.
Among the other elite players to wear the number 10 shirt for Real Madrid is Gheorghe Hagi, Michael Laudrop, Robinho and Mesut Ozil.
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The National
3 hours ago
- The National
Adam Aznou looks to make next step with Everton as good friend Lamine Yamal soars at Barcelona
As a boy growing up in Catalonia, scouted and then nurtured from a young age by Barcelona, Adam Aznou would sometimes scroll through his mobile phone before matches in search of visual stimulus. For a period, clips of Neymar were his preferred inspiration. He would seek out the Brazilian's special tricks, his moments of skill in one-on-one duels, as prompts so Aznou could head out on to the pitch confident and with the courage to take the game to opponents. Aznou was barely into his teens when he started to witness, at close range, some exceptional, Neymar-style swagger, being performed by a friend and teammate who was even younger than he was. That was Lamine Yamal. Aznou and Lamine were schoolboys with similar backgrounds – born in Catalonia into Moroccan families – who coincided at Barca's La Masia academy. When their respective professional ambitions took them along different fast-tracks to launch their senior careers, they remained friends. With idols like Neymar, a celebrated prodigy well before he joined Barca and later Paris Saint-Germain, and peers like Lamine, the current Barca superstar, a degree of impatience in plotting the upwards trajectory of your own career would be understandable. And Aznou, still a teenager, has long been tipped to thrive at the elite level. Barcelona saw that potential in him when they took note of his strong left foot, his ease on the ball, his turn of pace, his adventurous use of the left flank and enrolled him at their admired finishing school. Bayern Munich then promised him a rapid rise to their senior side when they enticed him away from La Masia as soon as he had turned 16. A few weeks after his 19th birthday, Aznou is now preparing to take on his third leading league, after the Bundesliga and Spain's top-flight. He has joined Everton of the English Premier League, a move regretted by some of Bayern's senior executives, although the German champions were obliged to acknowledge that the precocious full-back, already a full international with Morocco, was entitled to move on to feel assured his career was progressing. His impatience at Bayern, where he had outgrown the youth team, had been building. Aznou had spent the second half of last season on loan and impressing at Real Valladolid in La Liga – albeit at the wrong end of the table there – and in June he returned to Munich encouraged that he was asked to join the Bayern squad in the USA for the Fifa Club World Cup. That meant a sacrifice: He made an agreement with Morocco manager Walid Regragui that he should be with Bayern at a major tournament rather than join up with the national squad for their early summer get-together. The expectation then was that Aznou would play more than a mere 10 minutes in the Club World Cup's group stage. By the time Bayern were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final, he felt restless. Aznou, who captained Bayern in the Uefa Youth League, had in total made only four appearances off the bench for the seniors in 2024-25. He had begun to suspect that in a Bayern hierarchy where the lightning quick Alphonso Davies commands the left-back role, he was further back in the queue there than his talents would make him at most other employers. That opinion is widely shared. Barcelona, recalling the good impressions the younger Aznou made on their coaches at La Masia, are among the superclubs who considered bidding for him this summer, noting that, in his spell at Valladolid, he continued to show the verve in attack that marked him out as a kid. Valladolid may have spent last season in a vain struggle against relegation, but Aznou still recorded the second best register for successful dribbles of any defender who played more than 500 minutes in the Liga campaign, edging Barca's dashing Alejandro Balde into third place on that metric. Valladolid had recognised Aznou's fortes immediately, putting him on the left wing for his first start there. Aznou himself ensured Evertonians have had advanced notice of his progressive instincts, when, at his presentation this week, he said: 'I like to take the ball on – one-on-one dribbling, that's me.' Having signed his four-year Everton deal and had his first look at their impressive new stadium, symbol of revived ambition at the Merseyside club, Aznou joined teammates in the USA for the remainder of the preseason tour. He could make his debut this weekend against Manchester United in Atlanta. But a degree of patience will still be required, advised David Moyes, the Everton manager. 'He's young, maybe not quite ready yet, but we hope he will be shortly,' said Moyes of Aznou. 'We see a lot of good things in him. He's technically very good, athletic, might need just a little bit to get himself built up and ready for the Premier League, so we won't be putting him under any pressure.' Aznou will be alive to the pressure of the international calendar, however. In less than six months time, Morocco host the Africa Cup of Nations, with hopes high that, following up their run to the semi-finals of the last World Cup, the Atlas Lions can reclaim the continental prize they last achieved almost half a century ago. Though much of Regragui's ideal starting eleven is established, there's a hint of a vacancy for a specialist left-back. There's competition for the spot, into the long-term, too, with a clutch of young players looking to follow the lead of Morocco superstar Achraf Hakimi, the dashing attacking right-back who played such a vital role in delivering the Uefa Champions League title to PSG last season. Hakimi has been a pathfinder for Aznou's generation. Like Aznou, Hakimi was born in Spain and elected to play his senior international football for the nation of his parents rather than Spain. Ditto Youssef Enriquez, known as Yusi, a left-back of huge promise who, in common with Hakimi, came up through the youth system at Real Madrid. He's 19 and, just like Aznou, has chosen this moment of his career to push on and gain more minutes on the pitch in a top division by leaving Madrid to join La Liga's Alaves. Regragui will be watching very closely how Yusi and Aznou both take on their new challenges.
Khaleej Times
3 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
F1: Piastri out to boost title bid in Budapest, scene of first win
Oscar Piastri returns to the scene of his first victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend seeking to stretch his lead in the title race over his McLaren teammate Lando Norris. The 24-year-old Australian, with six wins from 13 races this year, has a 16-point lead over Norris, but he is well aware of the potential pitfalls ahead. "I'm looking forward to going back to where I had my first win," said Piastri. "It's a great city and a cool track and a fun weekend so it will be nice, but once we are in the cars and out on track all that will be forgotten." His victory last year came with the help of team orders. Having taken the lead from pole-sitter Norris at the start he fell behind during the pit-stops. McLaren asked Norris to give him the position back, gifting him his maiden triumph in a manner that left the Briton feeling mistreated. This time, Norris is out to ensure he wins for himself to trim Piastri's advantage. Second in Belgium where Piastri passed him following a rolling start on a drying rain-affected track, Norris has been less consistent than the metronomic Melburnian. His slightest errors have been highlighted while the measured Piastri rarely makes mistakes. A similar scenario is not impossible this weekend with McLaren dominant after taking 10 wins and targeting their 200th win before Formula One takes its summer break. After the rainstorms in the Ardennes forest at high-speed Spa-Francorchamps, the Hungaroring circuit 25km north of the capital represents a very different challenge – a sinuous and slow track with one straight dubbed "Monaco without the barriers". 'One to forget' It also offers very different weather with very warm and sunny conditions expected, although there are thunderstorms threatening, making it a twisting and technical challenge for teams and drivers. The race joined the world championship calendar in 1986 when travelling behind the Iron Curtain into eastern Europe was still considered adventurous, but the first sole nominated Hungarian Grand Prix was held 50 years earlier in Nepliget, a Budapest park. Ferrari's seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, in urgent need of a good weekend with a podium finish after "one to forget" as he described his Belgian experience, has won a record eight times at the Hungaroring and also taken a record nine poles. This could be his chance to secure a first Ferrari podium and lift some of the pressure on the Maranello team. But the track has a reputation for throwing up surprise winners, often maiden triumphs, and is fondly remembered also by two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin who was 22 when he became then the youngest driver to take pole and win a Grand Prix in 2003. He followed that by taking the drivers' title two years later to become the sport's then-youngest world champion at a venue where Briton Nigel Mansell also clinched the title in 1992. This weekend's contest will be Alonso's record 22nd in Hungary. Four-time champion Max Verstappen is set to start his 200th race for Red Bull. The Dutchman won in 2022 and 2023, but is no longer enjoying imperious superiority with Laurent Mekies at the helm for the second race weekend following the sacking of Christian Horner.
The National
a day ago
- The National
Luis Diaz seals €70m switch to Bayern Munich from Liverpool
Colombian attacker Luis Diaz has completed a €70 million move from Premier League champions Liverpool to Bundesliga title holders Bayern Munich. Diaz, 28, was given permission to miss Liverpool's pre-season defeat against AC Milan in Hong Kong to finalise the switch and has now signed a four-year contract. Bayern say the deal is worth €70 million up front plus a further €5m in potential add-ons having seen an earlier offer of €67.5m rejected. Diaz has been pushing for the move and, after two failed attempts to agree an extension to the two years he had remaining on his contract, Liverpool reluctantly accepted his departure was inevitable. The winger joined Liverpool from Porto in January for an initial €40m, going on to play 148 games for the club, scoring 41 goals and providing the assists for a further 23. Diaz would help the Reds win the FA Cup and two League Cups before securing the Premier League title last season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions. 'I'm very happy, it means a lot to me to be part of FC Bayern – it's one of the biggest clubs in the world,' said Diaz, who will wear the number 14 shirt at the club managed by former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany. 'I want to help my new team with my style of football and my personality. My goal is to win every possible title – we will work towards that every day as a team.' In a message posted on Instagram, Diaz said he would 'treasure forever' his time at Liverpool. 'I arrived with all the dreams in the world, and I am leaving proud of everything we achieved together,' he wrote. 'I have met incredible people, fabulous colleagues, coaches who helped me a lot, and extraordinary fans. Liverpool is, indeed, a special team, and I will keep everyone in my heart. The cycle ends here, and it is so gratifying to look back and realise how happy we were.' Diaz also paid tribute to former teammate Diogo Jota, who was killed in a car accident during the summer.' It would have been the perfect goodbye if we hadn't lost one of ours in such a tragic way,' he added. 'As I said, and I repeat, I carry everyone with me in my heart, but one of them in particular: Diogo. I will never forget him. We will never forget him. Thank you for everything. YNWA.' Bayern Munich board member Max Eberl, speaking to the club website, said: 'Luis 'Díaz is an internationally experienced player with tremendous quality, great skills, and great reliability. He will help our team immediately. 'We are delighted to have been able to bring him to FC Bayern. Transfers like this work when everything meshes together. Our fans can look forward to an exceptional player.' Bayern suffered a major blow at the recent Fifa Club World Cup when attacker Jamal Musiala suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle after a collision with Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. The 22-year-old underwent surgery on his injuries with Bayern saying he would be missing for a 'long period'. Liverpool, meanwhile, have already bolstered their attacking options this summer having signed France Under-21 international Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for a fee that could eventually rise to €95m. Arne Slot's side have also been heavily linked with Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak who is exploring his options for a potential summer move away from Tyneside. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe revealed on Tuesday that the club had yet to receive an offer for Isak who has scored 62 goals in 109 appearances for the Magpies, including 27 in all competitions last season. The 25-year-old did not travel on the club's pre-season tour of Asia, with Newcastle initially blaming a 'minor thigh problem' for his absence. Isak still has three years left on his current deal after moving from Real Sociedad in 2022 in a club-record switch worth around £60m. Reports suggest it would take an offer of around £150m to have any chance of a deal which means there are only a handful of clubs in the running – Liverpool being one, while Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal have also been mentioned, although it is unlikely Isak would be keen for a move to the kingdom. 'He is still our player. He's contracted to us,' Howe insisted at a news conference in Seoul on Tuesday. 'We, to a degree, control what is next for him. I would love to believe all possibilities are still available to us. 'My wish is that he stays, but that's not in my full control. We have not received a formal offer for Alex, from any club.'
