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Jurgen Klinsmann boasts strong ties to Tottenham from his playing days and says "anything is possible" after seeing his name added to the pot of potential successors to Jose Mourinho.

Spurs find themselves in the market for a new manager after parting company with a high-profile Portuguese coach that failed to win over his doubters across 17 months in north London.

Various candidates have been linked with a prominent Premier League post, including Julian Nagelsmann and Maurizio Sarri, with former Germany, Bayern Munich and USMNT boss Klinsmann one of those said to be in the frame.

What has been said?

Klinsmann, who took in two spells with Spurs as a player and has suggested he is open to a new management role after severing ties with Hertha Berlin in February 2020, has told ESPN FC: "I tell you, anything is possible in life.

"I never thought I would coach Germany at a World Cup. I never thought I would coach the USA for six years or Bayern Munich. So we’ll see in a couple of months who will be the Spurs manager!"

Mourinho's departure

Spurs sacked Mourinho a matter of days before they are due to take on Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final - with a first trophy in 13 years up for grabs.

On that big call, which came amid criticism of the Portuguese's methods, Klinsmann said: "Well obviously it’s a huge, huge decision.

"The timing as well – a couple of days before the cup final – they wanted to send out a signal that it wasn’t going in the right direction.

"Daniel Levy cut the rope and will figure out what to do over the next couple of months. It was definitely a decision about Jose in terms of his style of play and what the Spurs fans want to see. 

"From where they are in the Premier League you can still justify certain things because they are two points away from the Champions League now. 

"But what they wanted was to go for the title and they were doing that at the start of the season. They were up there for a little while and then they dropped month by month and Levy has pulled the plug.

"They really need to get into the Champions League. If they win the final then awesome, it’s nice to have a little piece of silverware, but it’s crucial to get into the Champions League."

Klinsmann's coaching record

The 1990 World Cup winner took charge of Germany in 2004 and led them to the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup, with third place ultimately secured at that tournament.

He then went on to take the reins of Bayern in 2008, but lasted less than a year with the Bundesliga giants and left with them sat third in the table - winning just 25 of his 44 games in charge.

America was Klinsmann's next port of call, with 55 victories taken in with the United States from 98 games across a five-year spell, with another World Cup finals graced in 2014.

The last entry on the 56-year-old's CV is another short-lived one, with just 10 weeks spent in charge of Hertha - with three wins, four draws and four defeats overseen in the German capital.

Further reading

Robert Lewandowski remains tied to a contract at Bayern Munich through to the summer of 2023, but the prolific Polish striker has stated a desire to "play for at least another five years".

At 32 years of age, one of the finest finishers in the business is showing no sign of slowing down.

He has been nursing a knee injury of late, keeping him out of a Champions League quarter-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, but does have 42 goals to his name this season and remains a leading contender for the 2021 Ballon d'Or.

What has been said?

Quizzed on his future plans by GQ, Lewandowski has said: "I haven't really thought about what will happen in three or four years. 

"But I want to play for at least another five years. Maybe longer if I can."

Will Lewandowski stay at Bayern?

There is no need for the German title holders to enter into contract talks just yet.

They may decide to at some stage, having seen Lewandowski hit 288 goals for them in 325 games, but the Poland international is reluctant to speculate on where his career will be seen out.

He added: "At the moment I'm in Munich, playing in the best team in the world, having fun with my team-mates and feeling very good here. 

"I want to play football at the top level for a longer period of time. 

"My contract with FC Bayern still has two years left, so I don't think you need to think about that."

The bigger picture

Bayern remain hopeful that Lewandowski will return to action in their next Bundesliga fixture against Mainz on Saturday, having seen him step back into training.

He has sat out six games in all competitions, but Hansi Flick told reporters after seeing his side overcome Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on Tuesday: "He is certainly an option. We're glad that things are moving so quickly forward for him."

Further reading

Stung by the defeat by Cape Town City, many Kaizer Chiefs fans were frustrated with the result on social media, while coach Gavin Hunt was trending on Twitter.

Amakhosi's Premier Soccer League top-eight hopes are now dented. With players also blamed for the loss, a large portion of the posts was directed toward the former Bidvest Wits tactician.

Not long ago, Hunt was praised for helping Amakhosi reach the Caf Champions League quarter-finals and their eight-match unbeaten run.

Here is how the fans reacted after the latest result:

FC Goa suffered their first defeat of the ongoing AFC Champions League after they went down 1-2 against Iranian giants Persepolis FC 2-1 in their third match of the group stage.

In their fourth match now, the Gaurs once again face the reigning Persian Pro League champions and their coach Juan Ferrando mentioned that his biggest concern ahead of the tie is fatigue. 

What did Juan Ferrando say?

"We are playing six games in 20 days so it is difficult and it is difficult for all the teams. Of course, it is important to prepare the entire squad because everybody needs to participate. But this problem is because of the pandemic and it is necessary to be ready, to be strong and at the end, the most important thing is to participate and try to play in the best conditions," said the Spanish coach when asked about the condition of his players.

FC Goa's performance in their maiden AFC Champions League (ACL) appearance has been commendable as the Indian Super League (ISL) side has managed to pick up two points from their first three matches and has managed to get draws against Qatar's Al-Rayyan and UAE's Al Wahda in their first two matches.

Ferrando though is not fully satisfied as he stated that the philosophy of the club is to win matches and not remain satisfied with draws.

"I am not very happy because our mentality in this club is to win games," opined Ferrando. "But we know are in the AFC Champions League and here there are very difficult games. At certain points our performance was good.

"Against Persepolis, we were not successful in our plan. I understand that some players were tired, not just physically but also in mentality. When you play 200 minutes of high-intensity matches normally the players get tired. But for me, the most important is to continue, we have three more games and the next three games are very important for us. It is necessary to improve. Our target is to get the nine points. We respect all the oppositions, they are all very good teams but this is our target," stated the Spanish coach.

'Edu Bedia injured, several players exhausted'

"Edu Bedia is injured. It is a big injury. We have a lot of problems with some players. In the last game, Ivan (Gonzalez) was injured but he tried to help. Mohamed Ali is in the squad but he is still recovering. Leander (D'Cunha) and Princeton (Rebello) have started to work now after two weeks.

"Glan Martins and Jorge Ortiz are not injured but they need to recover. This is the truth. Brandon Fernandes was tired after the first half. Next week is very important for me and we need them. The most difficult job is of our medical team right now because they are working tirelessly. I hope we will get the best players in the lineup for the next game," informed the FC Goa manager.

'AFC Champions League at a different level'

FC Goa's star performer Brandon Fernandes highlighted the difference in standard between the ISL and the AFC Champions League and stated that playing in the premier Asian competition is helping the Indian players up their standards.

"ISL's level is very good but the AFC Champions League is at a different level. The intensity is very high. Teams play quicker, they spend less time on the ball. It is a good learning experience for each and every one of us. We can only get better playing such high-intensity games and it is only good for us," opined Fernandes.

The difference between the fees paid for the Premier League’s most prominent players today is stark.

While Paul Pogba, for example, cost $120 million when he returned to Manchester United, Harry Kane didn’t cost Tottenham Hotspur anything when he was promoted to the senior side from the youth set-up.

The differences are dramatic, but does a considerable outlay guarantee stronger performances? Is there a clear correlation with the fees paid for players and the quality of their contribution for the buying club?

Of the Premier League’s ten most effective players so far this season—as per Opta—there’s a massive discrepancy between the transfer fee initially paid by the club.

Of the ten, seven—Kevin De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Cancelo, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, Tomas Soucek and Ilkay Gundogan—cost their clubs hefty transfer fees.

Of these seven, De Bruyne was the most expensive, having been signed by Manchester City for €76 million ahead of the 2015-16 season.

He struggled to make an impression at Chelsea, and despite outstanding performances in Germany, his return to England still represented a gamble for the Cityzens.

However, in the subsequent seasons, he has repaid that transfer fee emphatically, and established himself as one of the finest playmakers of his generation.

Indeed, the fact that—five years on—he’s still considered among the Premier League’s outstanding players, is testament to the impact he’s had in the top flight.

Mahrez cost a hefty €67.8m when he was snapped up from City by Leicester City, having played his part in the Foxes’ miraculous 2016 title success.

He took his time to truly start repaying that transfer fee, but his trophy cabinet is testament to his success at the Etihad Stadium.

If he can add the Champions League this season, then few would argue it wasn’t money well spent, even if fans would prefer to see Mahrez influence the bigger games more often.

Manchester United fans are unlikely to complain about the €55 million the club paid for Bruno Fernandes, while Sadio Mane’s eye-watering €41.2 million transfer fee actually looks like something of a bargain considering his impact at Anfield.

While the Senegal forward isn’t enjoying his best season this term, his influence in Liverpool’s Champions League and Premier League successes has fully justified his outlay.

Similarly, Ilkay Gundogan—signed by Manchester City for £20 million—back in 2016 can be firmly considered a bargain in light of modern transfer fees.

Still only 30, the playmaker appears to have overcome some of the fitness and injury problems that affected him earlier in his City career, and has been a major influence in City’s title push this term.

So far, he has 12 goals in 24 league outings, and has repaid that £20 million fee many times over.

Before this season, there may have been some doubts that Joao Cancelo merited the €65 million that City paid for him.

Indeed, it still looks to be an eye-watering fee—particularly for a full-back—but the defender has been influential this term, he’s surely the outstanding right-back in the top flight this season, and is well placed to win a league winner’s medal.

Of the seven players in the Prem’s current top ten who cost a transfer fee, Soucek is something of an outlier as he doesn’t represent one of the top flight’s so-called ‘Big Six’.

The towering midfielder—initially signed on loan from Slavia Prague—was recruited permanently for €21 million, and has proven himself to be a key operator in the heart of the park during West Ham United’s push for the Champions League.

Compared to Gundogan—who cost roughly the same amount—Soucek’s PL legacy is minimal, but he’s weighed in with nine goals this term—outstanding for a defensive midfielder—and is one of the top three most effective headers in the top flight this term.

Of the Prem’s most expensive signings ever, Virgil van Dijk has certainly demonstrated that he was ‘value for money’—playing a critical role in bringing the title to Liverpool after a three-decade wait.

The likes of Nicolas Pepe, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Kai Havertz still have much to prove if they’re to even begin to repay their hefty transfer fees, while the jury’s still out on Paul Pogba and Harry Maguire.

There have been moments of excellence from both, but it’s hard to see how—for a combined €192 million—they’ve been anything close to good value for money.

To find the really good value among the Prem’s top players, however, look to the three homegrown players.

Jack Grealish, Harry Kane and Mason Mount all came through the academies at Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, respectively, and have gone on to become key figures at three English heavyweights.

All three are prominent members of the England squad ahead of the European Championships, and yet none cost their clubs any transfer fees.

The fees that have been mooted for any clubs willing to sign Kane or Grealish, for example, are evidence of the duo’s value in the market today.

When either of them do depart, Tottenham and Villa will almost certainly be set for considerable windfalls.

Elsewhere in the division, the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden, James Ward-Prowse, Kalvin Philips and Declan Rice have all also established themselves among the league’s best players having been promoted through their clubs’ academies.

This is where the true value for money can be found in the Premier League; the gems from the academy who can go on to establish themselves among the PL’s top players.

Beyond on-field quality, these players often represent the true heart and soul of a player, providing a connection with supporters that cannot be brought or manufactured.

Truly, these players are worth their weight in gold.

Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick is yet to be approached about taking charge of the Germany national team, says Oliver Bierhoff, with the DFB prepared to be patient when it comes to appointing Joachim Low's successor.

Die Mannschaft are bracing themselves for the departure of a World Cup-winning coach, with Low revealing that he will be vacating a position that he has filled for 15 years after this summer's European Championship.

Flick is considered to be a leading contender to fill that void, having announced that he will also be leaving his current role at the end of the 2020-21 campaign, but no discussions have been held as yet regarding his future plans.

What has been said?

DFB director Bierhoff has told Kicker of the links to Flick: "In this case, the following applies: As long as a coach is in an ongoing contractual relationship - and I understand that this is still the case with Hansi Flick and FC Bayern - we will not actively approach him."

Bierhoff added that the fact Flick "enjoys huge appreciation at the DFB is no surprise", in what could be considered a nod towards talks taking place at some stage.

The bigger picture

Goal has learned that Flick first raised concerns regarding a long-term role at Bayern prior to agreeing a three-year contract in April 2020.

He is now walking away from that deal, with the inability of the German giants to get Jerome Boateng and David Alaba tied down on extended contracts considered to have influenced that decision.

His services will be in demand once hitting the open market, with a treble triumph enjoyed with Bayern in 2019-20.

Germany are expected to make an offer at some stage, but they will bide their time.

DFB president Fritz Keller has added: "We said that we would not get a coach out of an existing contract. Nothing has changed about that."

The DFB have also sought to make it clear that they "do not want to comment on every single name in the course of the process."

Further reading

Harambee Stars striker Michael Olunga believes Al-Duhail SC are on the right track after a hard-fought 4-3 win over Esteghlal of Iran in the AFC Champions League at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

The Kenya forward sealed the hat-trick after he scored in the 10th, 27th and 85th minutes to ensure Al-Duhail went top of the group as the competition hits mid-way.

"Al Duhail are moving in the right way, and the proof of that is the performance [vs Esteghlal],” Olunga told the club’s website. “We did not give up. We even fought hard after we scored the first goal and managed to get out of the first half at the top.”

“After the equaliser was scored by the Iranian team in the second half, we continued to work until we achieved victory. I dedicate my goals to the club’s fans who did find the chance to be with the team and gave the support in the stadium.”

Apart from the fans, the former Kashiwa Reysol star lauded the management and the role they played in ensuring they won the match.

"I would like to thank the technical and administrative staff for the great efforts they make in order to create the right atmosphere for the players,” he added. “They provide all the assistance that helped us achieve the desired results and the victory that came [on Wednesday].

“It came with the integration of all these efforts after a match that was not easy for us, in which we faced a strong and organized team. But the determination and persistence of my colleagues led us to achieve this victory that made us end up at the top of the group.

“It will certainly give us the necessary confidence to continue on the path of victories "

After the performance saw him awarded man of the match, Olunga’s third goal was selected to be voted as the best goal of the week.

The former Tusker star completed his first hat-trick in the competition and the first for Al-Duhail in the Champions League as he shone in the seven-goal thriller.

Simba SC assistant coach Selemani Matola believes his charges were prepared and that enabled them to defeat Kagera Sugar 2-0 in a league assignment at Kaitaba Stadium on Wednesday.

The win – courtesy of goals from Luis Miquissone and Chris Mugalu – is set to pile more pressure on Yanga SC who are at the top and have played more games. The former midfielder has now explained what the reigning champions did to ensure the team bagged maximum points away to the Sugar Millers.

"It was not an easy game despite the win; Kagera are a good team and they showed it on the pitch," Matola told Goal.

"But we planned well, got our chances in the first half, and used them and in the end, we managed to get maximum points."

After the pause, it seemed Mnyama had no urgency in pushing for more goals and the tactician has explained why.

"In the second half we slowed our tempo because we had already gotten what we wanted and there was no need of using a lot of energy," Matola added.

"We just wanted to possess the ball and ensure we take as much time as possible with the ball to safe-guard the three points. We have been playing matches back-to-back so if we don't reserve energy after taking leads, we will struggle in other matches.

"The main thing is to ensure we get a positive outcome in every game we play."

Meanwhile, Kagera Sugar head coach Francis Baraza has stated his tactical approach was not at fault for his team's loss.

"We were dominating in the first half but made costly mistakes and we were punished," Baraza told Goal.

"It is not about the tactics but about the way my players allowed Simba in those dangerous areas. My defenders and midfielders were lazy in clearing the danger in the two goals we conceded.

"My defenders and midfielders were also shaky as opposed to the matches we played away to Mbeya City and Mtibwa Sugar. They did not follow the instructions I gave them and at some point, it was like the midfield was running away, they were not shutting the opponents as we had discussed."

Karim Benzema is among those said to be holding contract talks with Real Madrid, and Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane is hoping to see the French striker remain at Santiago Bernabeu for "a long time to come".

A 33-year-old frontman has been in the Spanish capital since 2009, with a big-money move from Lyon made in the same summer that Cristiano Ronaldo made his way to Madrid.

Benzema found himself operating in the shadow of a Portuguese superstar for nine years, but is now the main man for Real and his two goals in a 3-0 win over Cadiz on Wednesday took him onto 27 goals for the season.

What has been said?

Discussing his fellow countryman on the back of another inspired showing, and with reports suggesting that a new deal through to 2023 is on the cards for Benzema, Zidane has said: "I’m delighted with how he’s performing.

"We know how important he is to our game and not just because of his goals.

"He makes the guys around him play, we enjoy watching him and I hope Real Madrid can continue enjoying him for a long time to come."

The bigger picture

Across his 12 years with Real, Benzema has only bettered his current goal return on three previous occasions - with 32 efforts representing his personal best.

He could raise that bar in 2021, with the Blancos having at least eight more fixtures to take in this season.

Kylian Mbappe remains a top target for Madrid although any move for the Frenchman would seemingly not be at the expense of Benzema's place in the team, given Zidane's trust in the former Lyon forward.

As for this season, Los Blancos are setting their sights on a La Liga and Champions League double, having hit top spot in the Spanish top-flight table and booked a semi-final showdown with Chelsea in European competition.

Zidane has added on Real's ambition: "We’re still alive in both competitions and we keep going.

"We’ve picked up three very important points to keep us in the race, but there’s still a long way to go."

Any other business?

Injuries and coronavirus-enforced absences have been an issue for Real throughout the current campaign, with a number of senior figures currently stuck on the sidelines.

Luka Modric has joined that group, after suffering an untimely ailment, but Zidane hopes to have the 35-year-old playmaker back at his disposal for a home date with Real Betis on Saturday.

He said of the Croatian midfielder: "He felt something in his back but I don’t think it’s anything serious.

"We’ll see how he feels and I hope he can be back with us straight away."

Further reading

What a difference 18 months can make in football.

It seems just like yesterday that Odion Ighalo's retirement from international football left many aghast, uncertain at the prospect of a Super Eagles without the former Watford striker. While his very suitability was the subject of much debate until his departure, what was impossible to deny was his standing and goal return.

Since then, however, there has been a veritable explosion of striking options for Nigeria, with the ongoing 2020/21 season representing the high-point.

There has been a breakout season for previously unknown Terem Moffi in Ligue 1, Indian summers for late-bloomer targetmen in Paul Onuachu and Simy Nwankwo, and an emphatic re-affirmation of potential from former Olympian Umar Sadiq. And that's before taking into account the incumbent Victor Osimhen who, despite a chequered debut season at Napoli, is the new standard bearer for the Super Eagles’ attack.

All but one of these were in the mix for the most recent international window: Moffi was named in the standby list, Sadiq was kept back by clubside Almeria over Covid travel restrictions, while Onuachu scored in the two matches against Benin and Lesotho.

The odd man out was Simy, whose last appearance for Nigeria under Gernot Rohr came at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Since that latest snub, the 28-year-old has hit an even richer vein of form for lowly Crotone, taking his tally of league goals for the season to 17 in 31 appearances. Of that number, 10 have come in his last seven matches, with scalps taken against the likes of Napoli, Atalanta and Lazio — some of Serie A's foremost sides.

Impressive as this all sounds, it acts as a surreal backdrop for a very grim reality: despite having already equalled Yakubu Aiyegbeni's Nigerian record for goals in a top five league, and with the real prospect of eclipsing it altogether, it is highly unlinely Simy will pull on the Nigeria jersey again under Rohr's management.

One of Rohr's well-established hang-ups is his unwillingness to grant second chances.

Often, the German will run the rule over a player the first time, and once he has decided said player is not to his liking, he will stick to that initial assessment no matter what.

As a consequence, the door was slammed shut on Anthony Nwakaeme for all time, and it is worth remembering that he was willing to exclude even Onuachu on this basis too, only to have his hand forced by the withdrawal of Sadiq during the March international window. “It is because I want to see somebody else,” he said of his decision to leave out the Genk hitman initially.

Having assessed Simy at close quarters at the last World Cup, it appears Rohr has reached a similar verdict here as well.

It just seems rather stiff-necked for the sake of it though.

Whatever reading Rohr got from a couple of training performances three years ago, it is clear this season that the rangy striker has gone up a couple of notches in terms of his output.

His ungainliness can count against him sometimes, and his finishing still is quite hit-and-miss, but Simy does a great job finding space inside the box to convert, and this season he has diversified his attacking movements away from simply looking to attack high crosses.

Seven of his total have come from the penalty spot, however, but even that can be considered a marker of his sheer dependability and importance to the Crotone cause.

While all the usual caveats apply, they still have to be put away and, in any case, being the fourth-highest scorer in one of Europe’s major leagues playing for the basement dwellers certainly paints at least as pretty a picture as bagging 30 for one of the top sides in the Belgian league or in Spain’s Segunda Division.

Perhaps there is some magic number upon which Rohr will be forced to not just confront his own biases, but consider integrating Simy.

After all, the German has made much of his preference for players in Europe’s top five leagues (a consideration which was used by some to explain his disdain for Nwakaeme), and while consistency across the board has never been his strong suit, that position of second choice centre-forward is yet to be properly decided.

At the very least, Crotone’s all-time leading goalscorer deserves a fair shot off the back of a monster season.

Pep Guardiola said members of Manchester City's hierarchy "don't need to apologise" to him for putting his squad through a distracting week of uncomfortable questions regarding the failed Super League project.

The manager, speaking after a 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Wednesday, insisted the Super League mess is a "closed chapter" as far as he's concerned. He would prefer to discuss the happenings on the pitch, where the Citizens could win three trophies in a span of just a couple of months.

Nonetheless, chief executive Ferran Soriano did say sorry to fans for briefly signing on to the controversial competition many felt went against club values.

What has been said?

"I know the guys and they don’t need to apologise," said Guardiola of Manchester City leadership. "My chairman and CEO, I know who they are, this is most important. ... It’s a closed chapter, it’s over."

The Spaniard went on to describe the 2020-21 campaign as "the most difficult season of our lives" with complete focus required to secure all remaining objectives.

"It would have been dangerous if we’d lost [to Villa]," Guardiola said. "Manchester United are in top form, but we deserve it for what we’ve done this season. We have this advantage - when it comes to the last five games we know exactly what we need - to play like today.

"How incredible they were in the locker room, committed after two defeats. We knew how important it was as preparation for the final and the Champions League. It’s close in the most difficult season of our lives. We have to finish this chapter, three games and we are champions."

What's ahead for City?

Guardiola's men take on Tottenham in the Carabao Cup final this weekend before visiting Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final next Wednesday.

With five league games to go, meanwhile, they lead second-place Manchester United by 11 points.

Further reading

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has claimed an English club that initially committed to join the Super League "infected" others involved in the project with their disinterest, ultimately causing it to fall apart.

Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham all said in quick succession Tuesday night that they would withdraw from the Super League amid backlash from fans, sponsors and football associations.

Perez, who was put in charge of the Super League, declined to name the Premier League organisation that allegedly shattered his endeavour, but he said they violated a binding agreement to remain in the newly formed division of elite European sides.

What has been said?

"There was one club in the English group that did not have much interest and that could infect others," Perez told El Larguero. "That club, which I am not going to say their name, signed a binding agreement. I am convinced that if this project does not come out, another will come out.

"I'm sad and disappointed. We've been working for years in this, looking to see how to make things better from a football and economic point of view.

"The leagues are sacred. What we can change is the midweek games. The Champions League is obsolete. It's only interesting from the quarter-finals."

Legal ramifications

Perez indicated he could pursue legal consequences against the Premier League clubs, though he has not offered specific details yet as to what that might entail.

"The contracts were binding," he said. "With legal contracts you cannot leave like this. The contacts belong to serious people, businessmen who know this world. The first thing we have agreed is to stop and start explaining this as we should have done."

Further reading

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez says that transfers for Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland will be "impossible" for any club without the Super League.

Perez's club has been linked to both players in recent months, even before the announcement of a potential breakaway Super League for 12 of the world's top clubs.

However, with that competition now crumbling, Perez says he doesn't see a way for any team in world football to afford a deal to sign Haaland or Mbappe this summer.

What did Perez say?

"In general, there will not be big transfers this summer," Perez told El Larguero. "When money does not flow from the rich clubs to the poor clubs, everyone suffers.

"It's impossible to make signings like Mbappé and Haaland, in general, not just for Real Madrid, without the Super League."

He added: “If we don't sign Mbappe this summer, I don't think any fan will shoot himself in the head. They know we're doing our best, and if things don't happen, it's because they're impossible”

Sales incoming?

Perez says that the club is hoping to keep hold of Sergio Ramos, a player that he says is "like a son" to him.

However, the club does have a budget to balance as Perez hinted that there could be some major changes in Madrid this summer.

"It depends on Real Madrid's situation," he said. "This year we're bringing in €300 million less. We need to sell a player, do things.

"I've done what I can up to now and I haven't done it badly. Despite a few people saying I don't know about football. I know what it's like to come into a club in 2000 where people hadn't been paid. I put up everything I could and changed the world with the Galacticos and went from losing €30 or 40 million a year to bringing that in."

Further reading

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has reiterated he thinks the Super League could "save football", while adding that he believes the near-universal backlash the plan was received was because it was "presented badly".

Perez is at the head of the push to form a Super League, which has crumbled in the days since its announcement due to the withdrawals of the six English clubs, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan.

However the Real boss, who has been the subject of criticism from La Liga chief Javier Tebas, remains committed to the idea of a Super League and says he still believes it could be exactly what football needs in the wake of economic hardships caused by and predating the coronavirus pandemic,

What did Perez have to say?

"UEFA put on a show, that I was completely surprised by," he told Spanish television programme El Larguero. "As if we'd dropped a nuclear bomb. What did we do wrong? Maybe we presented it badly, but why didn't they let us talk about it.

"It isn't fair that in England six are losing and 14 winning, that big clubs in Spain are losing money and the small clubs are earning money. Football is a pyramid. If there is money at the top, then the money flows down and everyone gets some.

"At the top [of tennis, [Roger] Federer has to play against [Rafael] Nadal. People don't go to see Nadal against the 80th in the world."

He added: "I have never seen aggression like it, from the president of UEFA and the domestic leagues. It seemed orchestrated. Insults, threats, like we killed football. We were trying to save football."

The road ahead

Despite the Super League setback, Perez believes there will eventually be another proposal and another plan to change what he sees as an "obsolete" current fomat.

"I'm sad and disappointed," he said. "We've been working for years in this, looking to see how to make things better from a football and economic point of view. The leagues are sacred. What we can change is the midweek games. The Champions League is obsolete. It's only interesting from the quarter-finals."

"We're open to someone else coming up with another option than the Super League," he continued. "It's not about the rich and poor. Madrid is not rich, it's rich in trophies. I don't earn a penny from this. I have to say that in 20 years, if I wanted a shirt, I paid for it. I have the authority to say, that if I'm doing this it's for the good of football."

Further reading

Youssef En-Nesyri has become the highest scoring Morccoan player in La Liga after his match-winning goal in Sevilla’s 1-0 win over Levante.

Wednesday's effort took En-Nesyri's tally to 17 goals which broke Youssed El-Arabi's previous record of 16 goals scored during the 2015-16 season at Granada.

After a goalless first-half, the Atlas Lions striker scored the crucial goal that separated both teams in the 53rd minute as Julen Lopetegui's side left Estadio Ciudad de Valencia with all three points.

En-Nesyri saw 86 minutes of action before he was replaced while compatriot goalkeeper Yassine Bounou kept a clean sheet and Munir El Haddadi came on as an 89th-minute substitute for Lucas Ocampos.

The victory, meanwhile, was Sevilla’s third consecutive away win in La Liga and it shot them to third in the league table, level on 67 points with second-placed Real Madrid, though the Blancos have a game at hand.

"There are many goals, this year I will not count them because the most important thing is to give the team victory,” En-Nesyri told the club website.

"Levante is a team that defends well, but we had concentration until the end, scoring that first goal that gives us the three points.”

With 17 goals in 32 matches so far, En-Nesyri is the fourth top scorer in the Spanish top-flight this season, behind Luis Suarez and Karim Benzema (19 goals), Gerard Moreno (20 goals) and Lionel Messi (23 goals).

The 23-year-old will aim to continue his impressive run in front of goal and also help Sevilla extend their seven-game unbeaten streak when they host Granada at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan for their next La Liga fixture on Sunday.