Latest news with #Spain
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Report Napoli closing on Juanlu Sanchez deal with Sevilla
Napoli are very close to an agreement with Sevilla for right-back Juanlu Sanchez, according to reports in Spain, with a fee worth under €20m. There had already been negotiations for the Spain Under-21 international, who was participating in the European Championship this summer. Juanlu Sanchez pushing for Napoli LA LINEA DE LA CONCEPCION, SPAIN – OCTOBER 10: Juanlu Sanchez of Spain in action during the UEFA European U21 Championship Qualifying match between Spain and Kazakhstan at Estadio Municipal de La Linea on October 10, 2024 in La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain. (Photo by) The Partenopei had not been prepared to reach the asking price of €18m plus bonuses, confident in the knowledge that the player was eager to make the move. Advertisement According to Onda Capital in Spain and in Italy, the clubs are now closer to shaking hands for €18-20m including performance-related bonuses. That would bring down the fixed fee and allow Napoli to break it up with some add-ons. A breakthrough could mean medical tests as early as next week. Sanchez turns 22 in August and is a product of the Sevilla youth academy, who this season scored five goals with five assists in 35 competitive games for the club. He has 12 caps for Spain at Under-21 level and can also play in a more advanced role down the right wing, giving him the kind of versatility appreciated by coach Antonio Conte.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Her gran says he's not good enough for her, but here are the clues that British tennis star Emma Raducanu and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz are a perfect pairing
As fairy-tale romances go, it certainly has all the components. During one heady summer in New York, two teenage tennis stars – both supremely talented and beautiful – burst on to the world stage on the hard courts of the US Open. Four years on, what better plot development could there be than a real-life romantic pairing between the ever-smiling Spanish charm of Carlos Alcaraz and the dazzling glamour of Emma Raducanu? Certainly, the world of tennis has been abuzz with rumours about a Hollywood-style love story, ever since it was announced last week that World No 2 Alcaraz – on a high after beating the World No 1 Jannik Sinner in an epic French Open final earlier this month – would be playing mixed doubles with Raducanu, who recently regained her spot as British No 1. She was seen cheering the strapping star on before his win at Queen's Club last weekend and there was even speculation that he had been spotted at the same hotel as her. So the question on every tennis fan's lips is: does the spark between the duo, both 22 (just look at them laughing on camera together as their sporting partnership is unveiled) signal the start of a genuine romance, or more of a convenient 'showmance'? Because even the merest hint that the hottest tennis love affair since Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi might be brewing must be the marketing equivalent of serving an ace at match point. Coincidentally – or not – the pair share both agents (sports marketing giant IMG) and sponsors (Nike and Evian). Emma's company, Harbour 6 Ltd, recorded a profit of £9.6 million in 2023 and she is said to make around £100,000 a year from each of the brands she works with; Carlos, meanwhile, is reported to have made $32 million in off-court endorsements last year. Then there are the organisers of the revamped US Open mixed doubles event, at which the pair will play together. What better publicity could there be than a frisson between the star athletes? Indeed, the US Open is familiar turf to IMG, in its role representing and advising the US Tennis Association (USTA) on international and domestic media rights. As one tennis insider told the Mail this week: 'As lovely as it would be, it all seems very well-orchestrated to me. 'Alcaraz has just won the French Open and is the talk of the town; he's the Wimbledon defending champion. And then there is Raducanu, who might not be winning tournaments but is certainly being talked about all the time. 'It's like a match made in heaven, at least from a marketing and sponsorship perspective.' However, the Mail has learned from others that far from being a partnership engineered by publicity savvy agents, this is more personal. According to a longstanding friend of Alcaraz: 'He was so nervous to ask her to play mixed doubles. Honestly, it was like he was asking her out on a date. He went bright red, like a schoolboy with a crush. 'I've always said Emma would be perfect for him and he blushes every time I mention it. Can you imagine what their children would look like? A super-race of gorgeous, talented athletes. 'I really hope they get together – it'd be wonderful for tennis, and great for Carlos. He's a decent chap. She could do a lot worse.' As to whether anything had actually happened between them, he says: 'If nothing has developed between them it's probably because of shyness, and perhaps they are worried about how it would affect their game. 'Watch this space though – perhaps when things calm down after Wimbledon?' Alcaraz, whose net worth is estimated somewhere north of £35 million, is by all accounts a family-loving young man, who thinks his mum's cooking is the best in the world and about whom no one seems to have a bad to say. He would, therefore, be viewed by many as a great catch. But one person who is unimpressed by him is Emma's granny, who feels he is not good enough for her granddaughter. Niculina Raducanu, 92, told the Mail on Friday she wasn't aware that the British star was seeing anyone. 'She is allowed to have boyfriends, she is 22. But she never talked to me about her love life,' she said. When presented with rumours that she was seeing Alcaraz, and shown a photo of the star, she said through an interpreter: 'I know him from TV, he's that tennis player. 'I'm surprised. I know her to be more particular. A bit picky when it comes to boys. To be honest, I'm not sure he is for her or that there is truth in this.' Using a Romanian phrase, which roughly translates to one who wears their heart on the sleeve, she added: 'I wish for her someone you can read their soul on their face.' So, with the tournament at the All-England Club starting on Monday, what exactly do we know of the friendship between two players with matching megawatt smiles and who grew up playing the junior tennis circuit at the same time? As Raducanu herself says, the pair 'go back a long way'. An old friend of the Bromley-raised star told the Mail that even on the junior circuit the two were close. 'Back in juniors they were always chatting, always gravitating toward each other. I thought they'd end up a couple. It started as a cheeky friendship, then a real bond . . . I think it's magical.' Whether the magic translates into romance or prizes (there's $1million up for grabs at the mixed doubles event) remains to be seen, but it was the US Open, in 2021, where their paths really began to merge. Raducanu made history when she became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title, keeping an expectant home nation glued to their television screens in only her fourth-ever professional tournament. Fresh from completing her A-levels, and ranked at No 150 in the world, she delivered the fairy-tale finish nobody had dreamed of. Alcaraz also sprang to prominence, knocking out world No 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas in a five-set tiebreak to reach the fourth round in the biggest win of his career at that time. He went on to reach the quarter-finals, returning to take the title the following year. It is, therefore, fitting that it will be at Flushing Meadow again where they are set to debut as a pair. Since the announcement was made both players have been giddily talking about it. First we had Alcaraz declaring that he couldn't think of anyone better to play with than Raducanu. 'I just asked Emma if she wants to play doubles with me. Yeah, I made that special request.' 'She's gonna be the boss,' he said, adding: 'I've known Emma since a really long time ago, so we know each other. I have really good relationship with her. So it's just gonna be interesting. 'We will try to win. But obviously it's going to be really, really fun.' And asked about the partnership by the BBC this week, Raducanu positively gushed in uncharacteristic fashion. 'He asked me earlier on in the year,' she said. 'I was very surprised, honoured and obviously excited. I just went through the formality of asking my coach, but of course, I was gonna say yes.' Cue coy giggles. There were more giggles when she was quizzed about internet rumours that the duo are 'destined for each other'. She replied, laughing: 'I'm glad the internet is having fun and we're providing some entertainment for everyone.' The pair are both prolific Instagrammers and often 'like' each other's social media posts, but it would seem there is a thread of something deeper, too. Raducanu has spoken of how she got to know the Spaniard at Wimbledon in 2021 and how they have remained friends even though his star has risen, while her career has been blighted by injury, poor performance and the challenge of finding a coach she can gel with. 'He's obviously overtaken me a lot, but it's nice that we have that from a while ago,' she says. 'I think for all of us, we really kind of value those connections that we had from when we were young. Because when you become a bit more known or a bit more successful, you just find yourself reverting back to people you knew from a young age because you're like, that's a real genuine connection, because it becomes very busy and you have a lot more friends, but the ones that you've known for a long time mean a lot more to you.' It would seem the rapport has been noted by those close to Raducanu, too. An agency insider says: 'They are close, and we've been ribbing them about the rumours, of course. 'They're both quite shy – not big daters – but they're comfortable with one another, which is lovely to see. They're almost like brother and sister . . . yet there's definitely a spark. You can feel it.' As for their respective relationship histories, Alcaraz is reported to have broken up with his girlfriend, amateur tennis player Maria Gonzalez Gimenez, in 2022. Raducanu, meanwhile, previously dated Carlo Agostinelli, the Harrow-educated son of billionaire financier Robert Agostinelli, but the two split last summer after a year together. There have been rumours of a frisson with fellow British player Jack Draper – who seems to have been overlooked as a mixed doubles partner (he's playing the same tournament with Olympic champion Qinwen Zhen). A stalwart presence in her player's box through the years has been her childhood friend and fellow child tennis star Benjamin Heynold, a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina, in the US. She's also had to cope with the upsetting ordeal of a stalker who has followed her to several tournaments this year and was recently blocked from buying Wimbledon tickets by organisers. During an interview last year, Alcaraz admitted he was single but added: 'I am looking for someone. It can be difficult as a tennis player to meet the right person because you are travelling all the time.' If anyone could empathise with that it must be Raducanu; her family – Romanian father and Chinese mother – kept a strict rein on her social life growing up. 'My parents were very much against that [boyfriends] as it interfered with training,' she said in an interview last year. 'When I was younger I wasn't even allowed to hang out with my girlfriends. A lot of the time I was very resentful. But it made me very confident and comfortable in my own company, which is also a big strength.' But she was wistful in an interview earlier this year, when she said: 'I think this year I've gone on loads of solo walks, solo coffee dates and just have a lot of time to kind of look inside . . . I've been enjoying it so far, even though it's not necessarily the easiest thing to do, especially when the tour is quite a lonely place.' Could Alcaraz be the man to change that? Sports marketing expert Tim Lopez, CEO of TLNT Global, says if the romance was genuine, it would catapult both players into the stratosphere. 'From a brand positioning profile and marketing perspective, it would be an absolute dream. They would be a good example of where one plus one makes three.' They would be hugely 'complementary', he adds. 'They would join ranks of other famous power couples such as Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi, or, outside of tennis, the likes of Becks and Posh.' And if it's all just rumour? 'Leaving aside the impact it may have on them personally,' he says. 'It will have done nothing but promote both their names in the public consciousness and add to their already high profiles. If it's strategic . . . bravo!' As a season of tennis unfolds, wouldn't it be the ultimate sporting fairy-tale if the marketing dream of 'Raducaraz' turned into a genuine love match.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carlos Alcaraz Makes Tennis History Before Wimbledon
Carlos Alcaraz Makes Tennis History Before Wimbledon originally appeared on Athlon Sports. ATP World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, from El Palmar, Spain, has dominated this tennis season, winning five tournaments, including the French Open. Advertisement His 2025 French Open title marked his second straight victory at Roland Garros. Now, he sets his sights on Wimbledon, aiming to defend last year's championship and claim back-to-back titles there as well. The Spaniard holds five Grand Slam titles at just 22 years old and is seemingly just getting started. Alcaraz has made history away from the playing surface, too. On Friday, his tennis card featuring a match-used racket knob sold for a record-breaking amount, making it the most expensive men's tennis card in history. Carlos Alcaraz of Spain poses with the French Open trophy after winning the final against Jannik Mullane-Imagn Images Topps, an American company that manufactures trading cards, broke the news. Advertisement "JUST SOLD: Carlos Alcaraz has set the record for most expensive men's tennis card in HISTORY," said Topps. "His 1/1 Topps Royalty tennis card featuring his match-used racket knob has sold for $222,000 on @fanaticscollect last night…" Despite the jaw-dropping figure, it still fails to top Serena Williams' 2003 NetPro signed patch rookie card, which sold for $266,400 in 2024. Alcaraz is known for his ability to succeed and adapt across all three playing surfaces. In 2024, Alcaraz became just the seventh men's player in history to win a Grand Slam title on all three surfaces (clay, grass and hard courts). In fact, he is the only men's player to win his first three Grand Slam titles on three different playing surfaces — 2022 U.S. Open, 2023 Wimbledon and 2024 French Open. Advertisement Related: Coco Gauff Reveals Promise Note After Winning French Open This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Spain's Aitana Bonmatí admitted to hospital with viral meningitis
Spain face a nervy wait over the availability of two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí before the Euros after manager Montse Tomé confirmed the midfielder has viral meningitis. Speaking to the Spanish media after Spain's 3-1 defeat of Japan in a pre-tournament friendly, Tomé said 'we can't talk about deadlines' for the influential Barcelona player's return, after Bonmatí posted a photo of her watching the match from a hospital bed with a cannula in her arm. 'The doctors say that it is controlled, talking about meningitis can be scary but it is controlled,' said Tomé. 'Aitana will be admitted and there are no deadlines yet to know for how long [she will be absent for].' The Spanish Football Federation had said that Bonmatí had been undergoing medical tests after suffering from a fever. According to reports in Spain, the fever failed to subside and so more extensive tests were carried out which confirmed she has viral meningitis, an inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Viral meningitis is caused by an infection and is the more common version of the disease, as opposed to bacterial meningitis. According to the NHS, viral meningitis tends to get better on its own within seven to 10 days. Spain begin their Euro 2025 campaign in six days' time, when they play Portugal on 3 July. They then play Belgium on 7 July and Italy on 11 July. Bonmatí was named the winner of the Ballon d'Or for a second consecutive time in October, receiving almost double the votes of closest rival for the award Caroline Graham Hansen. The technically gifted midfielder was critical to Spain's Women's World Cup triumph in 2023 and secured a sixth league title and fifth Supacopa de España this season, but was denied a fourth Champions League title by Arsenal's 1-0 defeat of Barcelona in this year's final. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion 'Aitana, for us, is a very important player, we will wait for her yes as long as we can,' said Tomé. 'The information I have told you is what I have and I am not going to explain more, if I said something more I would be wrong.'
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Arsenal hopeful of deal to sign Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera
Arsenal are hopeful of agreeing a deal to sign Cristhian Mosquera after holding talks with Valencia over the Spain under-21 international. Mikel Arteta is keen to strengthen his defensive options and has identified Mosquera – who came through Valencia's academy and has played 90 games for the first team – as their main target to provide back-up to William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães. Arsenal are scheduled to hold more talks after their initial offer of about £16m for the 21-year-old, who also has interest from Real Madrid, was rejected. They are expected to return with a slightly improved bid that could persuade Valencia to sell. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue for Mosquera, who featured against England in Spain's quarter-final defeat at the European Under-21 Championship last Saturday. Arsenal are also expected to wrap up the signing of Christian Nørgaard from Brentford in the coming days having agreed a fee worth up to £15m for the Denmark midfielder. He will be joined by Martín Zubimendi from Real Sociedad but Thomas Partey looks poised to leave after failing to agree a contract extension. Nottingham Forest's hopes of signing Timothy Weah and Samuel Mbangula from Juventus for a combined £19.6m have been dashed after the pair rejected the move. The United States forward Weah – a son of Ballon d'Or winner George – and the Belgian winger Mbangula were left out of the Juventus squad beaten 5-2 by Manchester City on Thursday having told the Italian club that they were not interested in joining the Premier League side. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Bournemouth, Everton and Leeds are also understood to be interested in Weah, who was on loan at Celtic in 2019.
