Headline: Exciting Developments in European Football: Key Matches and Surprising Performances
Football has commenced its new league season, unveiling several noteworthy stories despite the absence of its top teams. Here are five highlights to kick off your Sunday.
🧠 A Brain for Madrid?
José Félix Díaz, editor of As, reports growing interest from Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético de Madrid in 20-year-old midfielder Kees Smit, who is making waves at AZ Alkmaar. The asking price for Smit is around 60 million euros, and his representation comes from renowned agent Jorge Mendes.
As Sport elaborates, Barcelona’s recent sale of Ferran Torres to PSG for 50 million euros has provided the club with significant financial breathing room, worth an additional 50 million euros in salary fair play. Barcelona had signed Torres in January 2022 for 55 million euros, amortizing 10 million euros annually, with 10 million yet to be amortized due to his contract’s impending expiration next year.
From this transfer, Barcelona realizes a net profit of 40 million euros after factoring in the amortization. Moreover, it benefits from a wage saving of approximately 10 million euros annually. Thus, the total effect of these transactions allows Barcelona to bolster its fair play position for registering new signings.
😳 What Do You Mean, Mariano?
Mariano Díaz seemed to be written off by many, but football’s unpredictability prevails. In the recent match against Getafe, Mariano came off the bench in the second half, scored a goal, and contributed two assists. This performance marks a career milestone, leaving fans puzzled by this turnaround.
🪄 That’s How You Score a Backheel Screamer
Nashville SC triumphed over Inter Miami with a score of 4-1, featuring stars like Messi, Luis Suárez, and Casemiro. The highlight was an impressive backheel goal by Nashville’s Sam Surridge, showcasing his exceptional skills.
📺 What Matches Are On Today?
A busy day of matches is scheduled, featuring:
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16:00 Arsenal-Manchester City (Community Shield)
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17:00 Racing Santander-Villarreal
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17:00 Schalke 04-Real Madrid (friendly)
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19:00 Liverpool-Como (friendly)
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21:15 Lazio-Mantova (Coppa Italia)
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22:00 River Plate-Argentinos Juniors
The league began in stealth mode, with the strongest teams still lying fallow, but football has already given us quite a few interesting stories.
These are the five we’re suggesting to get Sunday off to the best possible start.
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🧠 A brain for Madrid?
José Félix Díaz, editor of As, leads the website today with the interest of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid in Kees Smit, a 20-year-old midfielder who stands out at AZ Alkmaar.
📸 KOEN VAN WEEL
He says his price could be around 60 million euros and gives an important detail: his agent is Jorge Mendes.
As Sport explains well, Ferran’s sale to PSG for 50 million euros gives Barcelona 50 million euros in salary fair play.
Barça signed Ferran Torres in January 2022 for 55 million euros on a five-and-a-half-year deal, with annual amortization of 10 million euros. Since his contract was due to expire next year, the club still had 10 million left to amortize.
From the sale, Barça makes a net profit of 40 million after subtracting the remaining amortization, but to that amount must be added the wage savings of around 10 million euros gross per season.
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The sum is clear: between what it brings in and what it saves, Barça gets 50 million euros of fair play that will help register the new signings.
😳 What do you mean, Mariano?
Most of us had already written Mariano Díaz off, but football is an unruly sport that opens paths where there is only undergrowth.
📸 Juan Manuel Serrano Arce – 2026 Getty Images
Yesterday Mariano came on in the second half, scored a goal, provided two assists and brought down Getafe in the first league match. He had never posted numbers like that in his entire career. Does anyone understand it?
🪄 That’s how you score a backheel screamer
Nashville thrashed Inter Miami last night (4-1) with Messi, Luis Suárez and Casemiro on the pitch.
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The best moment of the night came from Nashville striker Sam Surridge with a spectacular backheel finish to beat Rocco Ríos. Class.
📺 What matches are on today?
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16:00 Arsenal-Manchester City (Community Shield)
-
17:00 Racing Santander-Villarreal
-
17:00 Schalke 04-Real Madrid (friendly)
-
19:00 Liverpool-Como (friendly)
-
21:15 Lazio-Mantova (Coppa Italia)
-
22:00 River Plate-Argentinos Juniors
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.
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