Unimpressive in qualification, fans will be hoping Carlo Ancelotti can get the best out of Vinícius Júnior, as he did at Real MadridThis article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June. Continue reading...
Vinicius Junior brought calm to the fans over his expiring contract as he stated that he "have never imagined myself outside Real Madrid." Vinicius Junior‘s future at Real Madrid has been one of the most discussed topics at the club for months, with the two parties yet to reach a new agreement. Now entering the final year of his current deal, the Brazilian winger offered reassurance to Madrid’s supporters, declaring that he has “never imagined myself outside Real Madrid.“ Vinícius signed his most recent contract with Real Madrid in October 2023, securing him at the club through 2027. Since then, the player who had claimed the FIFA The Best award and been a serious Ballon d’Or contender has gone through a sharp dip in form, while extension talks, which have been ongoing since 2024, have repeatedly stalled over the financial demands involved. Speaking in an interview on Caze TV, Vinicius offered a measured take on where things stand with his contract situation: “I’m in no rush to renew my contract. I have until 2027. So until 2027, we have a lot to discuss with Madrid, and Madrid has a lot to discuss with us. Madrid is calm, I am calm. The president trusts me and I trust him. And that’s all, you just have to wait and live each day, each moment, and enjoy the best club in the world.” In recent months, his long-term future at the club was thrown into genuine doubt, first by reports of a record-breaking offer from the Saudi Pro League and then by tensions surrounding the now-dismissed coach Xabi Alonso. With the Saudi interest having cooled and Alonso no longer in the picture, a continuation at Real Madrid now appears the most likely outcome. Xabi Alonso, Head Coach of Real Madrid, and Vinicius Junior embrace. Vinicius reinforced that message emphatically. “I have never imagined myself outside of Real Madrid. I really enjoy every moment I spend here, because it is the club of my dreams. I always dreamed of playing here and being able to do so for such a long time. Now I am one of the team captains. Despite being so young, it is something important that rarely happens in history. So I enjoy every moment. I want to stay here all my life, but I’m also in no rush to renew my contract,” he insisted. Vinicius on the support of the fans Real Madrid’s first trophyless season since Zinedine Zidane’s final campaign in 2020-21 was met with frustration from the Santiago Bernabeu crowd, with Kylian Mbappé bearing the brunt of the supporters’ discontent. Vinicius, however, largely escaped that level of scrutiny, having led the team’s attacking play in the Champions League before their quarterfinal exit. When asked about the criticism he has faced throughout his time in Madrid, Vinicius offered a pointed reflection on how far his relationship with the club’s fanbase has come: “When I arrived at Madrid everyone said I wasn’t going to play, then that I wasn’t going to score a goal, after that that I wasn’t going to win, and in the end I always kept overcoming all the criticism. They said I was expensive for costing 45 million, and in the end I turned out cheap because of everything I have achieved. The president and the fans adore me.“
Real Madrid could be heading towards a major change in dressing-room hierarchy once Jose Mourinho officially returns to the Santiago Bernabéu.According to SPORT, the Portuguese manager has already id...
UEFA and FIFA reportedly have different views regarding certain upcoming rule changes. Several weeks ago, FIFA approved two rule modifications that will be implemented starting with the 2026 World Cup. While the global governing body intends for these new measures to eventually be adopted worldwide, reports indicate UEFA has other plans. “UEFA has opted against following FIFA’s lead and introducing automatic red cards for players who cover their mouths when confronting an opponent or leave the pitch in protest at a refereeing decision,” The Guardian reported on Tuesday. The ban on players covering their mouths while interacting with opponents was promoted by FIFA following an incident that actually involved UEFA competition, as it took place during a Champions League match. It was the well-known episode involving Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior. That incident resulted in a six-match suspension for Prestianni imposed by UEFA, which was later extended to the international level as well, potentially affecting the forward’s chances of making Argentina’s roster for the World Cup. FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The other situation that motivated these rule changes took place during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, when Senegal players temporarily walked off the field during the final against Morocco in protest of refereeing decisions. Although they later returned and secured a 1-0 victory, CAF ultimately awarded the title to Morocco in a controversial ruling that is now in the hands of the CAS. UEFA to closely monitor the World Cup Although FIFA approved these rule modifications following the latest meeting of the International Football Association Board, the decision has not been imposed as mandatory worldwide. That means each continental confederation and local association can evaluate whether implementing the changes is appropriate. “UEFA’s executive committee will meet for the final time this season in Istanbul on Wednesday and it is understood no regulation changes are on the agenda,” The Guardian reported. However, that does not necessarily mean the decision is permanent, as the issue is expected to be revisited in the near future. “UEFA sources said that its referees committee would monitor the impact of the new regulations during the World Cup with a view to discussing potential changes during next season,” the report added. The possibility of seeing a situation similar to the Africa Cup of Nations final happen again during the World Cup is extremely unlikely given how unusual that episode was. However, players covering their mouths while speaking to opponents is far more common, so it will be interesting to see whether that behavior disappears during the World Cup and, if not, whether referees will consistently enforce the new rules with the strictness FIFA intends.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has followed up his press conference earlier in the week with an interview on La Sexta. He spoke on a wide range of topics regarding the club, which included mat...
Barcelona sealed their second consecutive La Liga title on Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in El Clasico. Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres got the goals, which sparked jubilant scenes both...
