Football
Pep Guardiola reveals Man City’s stance on signing ‘extraordinary’ Arsenal target
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Manchester City are no longer pursuing Joan Garcia, the Espanyol goalkeeper who has attracted attention from several top European clubs.
The 24-year-old shot-stopper, valued at around £21 million, has been linked with Arsenal and City following a standout season that earned him a spot in the La Liga Team of the Season.
Arsenal and City are both expected to be active in the transfer market this summer as they look to bounce back from seasons without silverware and challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title.
Arsenal appear close to finalizing a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi and are also targeting a new striker, with Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres among the names being considered.
City, meanwhile, are focusing on offloading players, with Kevin De Bruyne reportedly on the verge of a move to Napoli, and doubts surrounding the futures of Jack Grealish and James McAtee.
Joan Garcia had emerged as a potential signing for City amid uncertainty surrounding Ederson and Stefan Ortega, both of whom are out of contract next summer.
Ederson has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, which led to speculation that City might move for Garcia. However, Guardiola has now poured cold water on those rumors. Speaking during a golf event in Catalonia, the City manager emphasized that the club is sticking with its current goalkeepers.
He acknowledged Garcia’s talent, calling him an excellent player, but dismissed the idea of a transfer, noting that City are frequently linked with a wide range of players each window.
Garcia himself has remained tight-lipped about his future. In an interview following Catalonia’s 2-0 win over Costa Rica in May, he said he was relaxed about the situation and that any move would need to make sense for both him and Espanyol.
While he didn’t rule out a transfer, he made it clear that nothing was imminent and that he was focused on recovery and personal reflection.
With City stepping back from the race, Arsenal now appear to be in a strong position to land Garcia, having shown interest in the goalkeeper during the previous transfer window.
Mikel Arteta has been looking to bring in competition for David Raya, and Garcia would be a fitting addition. However, Arsenal may face a fresh hurdle as reports indicate that Barcelona are now leading the chase, having reportedly agreed personal terms with Garcia and showing willingness to activate his €25 million release clause.
New Barça boss Hansi Flick reportedly sees Garcia as the long-term replacement for Marc-Andre ter Stegen and wants him to challenge for the No. 1 shirt immediately.
Though some sources suggest that the deal with Barcelona is all but done, others believe Arsenal still have a shot at convincing the player, as he has yet to make a final decision on his future. The coming weeks will likely determine whether Garcia heads to the Premier League or stays in Spain to join one of La Liga’s biggest clubs.
Juventus are reportedly set to compete with Napoli for the signing of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer.
The 25-year-old is back at Old Trafford following a season-long loan at Chelsea, where he made a solid impact with five goals and 10 assists across 41 competitive appearances. He also found the net in Chelsea’s convincing 4-1 victory in last month’s Conference League final, though his efforts were not enough to convince the club to make the deal permanent.
Chelsea were initially expected to secure Sancho for £25 million as part of their loan agreement but ultimately chose to walk away from the obligation. As a result, they were required to pay Manchester United a £5 million penalty fee.
Despite being under contract with United, Sancho is not considered part of manager Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans. If he fails to secure a transfer in the coming weeks, the winger is expected to be left out of the club’s pre-season tour to the United States.
Juventus enter the race for Sancho
Napoli had previously emerged as the frontrunner for Sancho’s signature, with the player reportedly reaching a verbal agreement with the Serie A champions. However, a deal between Manchester United and Napoli has yet to be finalized.
According to Sky Sports News, Juventus have now entered the picture, exploring the financial and contractual terms of a potential move. The Turin-based side is seriously evaluating the opportunity to sign the England international, who has earned 23 senior caps.
Is Juventus the right fit for Sancho?
Juventus manager Igor Tudor is preparing for his first full season in charge after leading the team to a top-four finish last term. Known for deploying a 3-4-2-1 formation, Tudor’s system does not traditionally utilize wide wingers like Sancho.
If he joins Juventus, Sancho would likely compete for one of the two attacking midfield spots behind the main striker—a role that currently sees strong competition from Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao, and Nico Gonzalez. Unless one of these players is sold, Sancho might struggle to find regular playing time in Turin.
Napoli, on the other hand, could offer a more suitable environment for the former Borussia Dortmund star. With the club still looking to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed in January, Sancho may find more opportunities to thrive in his preferred position on the wing.
Nicolas Jackson endured a nightmare cameo as Chelsea collapsed in the second half against Flamengo during their FIFA Club World Cup clash, suffering a 3-1 defeat that puts their tournament hopes at risk.
Chelsea initially took the lead through Pedro Neto, whose composed finish through the goalkeeper’s legs gave the Premier League side a promising start. However, the momentum quickly shifted after the break.
Flamengo responded in ruthless fashion, netting twice in quick succession. Substitute Bruno Henrique capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home from close range, followed by another back-post finish from Danilo that stunned the Blues and put the Brazilian side ahead.
Matters worsened for Chelsea when substitute Nicolas Jackson was shown a straight red card just four minutes after entering the pitch.
His dangerous challenge saw his studs connect with Lucas Ayrton’s shin, leaving the referee with little choice but to send him off immediately.
Flamengo sealed the win with a third goal, as Wallace Yan added the final blow to a chaotic second half that Chelsea will want to forget.
The result means Chelsea must now beat African side ES Tunis in their next match on Tuesday to progress to the last 16. However, finishing second in the group could set them up for a much tougher path, likely facing the winner of Group C, which may include Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.
Flamengo’s victory strengthens their bid to top Group D and extends the unbeaten run of South American teams in the Club World Cup’s newly expanded format.
Flamengo vs Chelsea Highlight
Monterrey secured their spot in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, now known as the CONCACAF Cup.
Fast forward four years, and the team returned to the international stage at the Rose Bowl with only one player from that title-winning squad still in the lineup: veteran goalkeeper Esteban Andrada. The club had not lifted any silverware since that 2021 triumph, which made what happened next even more unexpected.
In a surprising twist, Monterrey opened the scoring against Inter Milan in the 25th minute, as Sergio Ramos delivered a perfectly placed header.
The Spanish defender, who joined the Mexican outfit earlier this year on a one-year deal reportedly worth $4 million, had cited the Club World Cup as a major influence in his decision to sign. His goal sent the Monterrey fans into wild celebrations.
However, their joy didn’t last long. Inter’s star forward Lautaro Martínez—fresh off a World Cup win—responded with a close-range finish following a perfectly orchestrated set-piece.
The Argentine’s goal silenced the Rayados-dominated crowd and brought the game level at 1-1 before halftime.
The second half saw both teams tighten up defensively, limiting each other’s chances as the game wore on.
Inter, still recovering from a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last month’s UEFA Champions League final, looked eager to reassert themselves. But it was Monterrey who rose to the occasion, matching their European opponents stride for stride and leaving the pitch with their heads held high after a gritty performance.
Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan Highlights
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